1986 Lem Motlow's Tennessee Sour Mash Whiskey 375ml

This 1986 bottling of Lem Motlow's Tennessee Sour Mash Whiskey is a genuine dusty-era survivor from the Jack Daniel Distillery in Lynchburg. The Lem Motlow's label ran from 1939, shortly after Tennessee's statewide prohibition ended, until 1992, and compact 375ml bottles from the 1980s have become quietly treasured pieces among Tennessee whiskey collectors.

The name on the label belongs to one of American whiskey's pivotal figures. Lem Motlow was Jack Daniel's nephew, taught the trade in Lynchburg from a young age. When his uncle's health failed, Daniel handed the business to Lem, who served as proprietor from 1911 until his death in 1947. It was Motlow who carried the distillery through Prohibition, rebuilt it afterward, and set the brand on its path to global fame — which is why "Lem Motlow, Prop." appeared on Jack Daniel's labels for generations.

The whiskey inside is an 80 proof (40% ABV) Tennessee sour mash from mid-1980s Lynchburg production, now approaching four decades in glass. Long bottle time tends to soften a spirit's edges, and pours from this era are prized precisely for that mellow corn sweetness, gentle oak and rounded, old-style character that modern releases cannot replicate.

As with any bottle of this vintage, honesty matters: the label, closure and fill level will show their age, and no two survivors look identical. That patina is part of the appeal. Whether opened for a milestone or displayed beside a Jack Daniel's historical collection, this is a tangible piece of the Motlow family's Lynchburg legacy.

• Size: 375ml
• Proof: 80 (40% ABV)
• Class: Vintage 1986 bottling
• Origin: Lynchburg, Tennessee, USA
• Distillery: Jack Daniel Distillery
• Style/Class: Tennessee Sour Mash Whiskey
• Composition: Sour mash whiskey
• Condition: Vintage bottle from 1986; expect label wear, closure aging and fill levels consistent with age
• Tasting Notes: Mellow corn sweetness, gentle oak, rounded old-style character from long bottle aging