Jess Gamble

The story of Jack Daniel’s is steeped in tradition, history, and a commitment to excellence in whiskey craftsmanship. Among the distinguished individuals who have shaped this iconic brand, Jess Gamble holds a unique place in its storied legacy. Appointed as the fourth Master Distiller of Jack Daniel’s in 1964, Gamble served in this pivotal role for just two years, yet his impact on the distillery’s operations and traditions endures to this day.

Jess Gamble was born on December 21, 1901, in Lincoln County, Tennessee. He had a twin brother, but both his twin and his mother, Florence Price Gamble, died shortly after his birth. His father, Willia Gamble, soon disappeared, and the orphaned Jess was raised by his grandmother. Little is known about Jess’s early life, but as an adult, he was, for a time, a respected mechanic for the Tennessee Highway Department, and in 1925, he married Lenous Dyer. Together, the couple had a son named Jerry Gamble.

On June 6, 1948, Jess was hired by Jack Daniel’s owner Reagor Motlow as a common laborer. In the late 1950s, then-Master Distiller Big Hide Tolley told Motlow that he was planning to retire soon and asked Motlow to start finding and training his replacement. Reagor finally settled on Frank Bobo as his next Master Distiller, but he knew it would take several years to get him trained. Jess Gamble had been employed by the Distillery for several years, and Reagor asked Gamble if he would step in as Master Distiller while Tolley was preparing for retirement. Big Hide then started the training processes of both Jess and Frank simultaneously, which included the ultra-secret recipe for making the world’s most popular whiskey. Jess was having problems remembering the recipe. He would call Frank several times a day, as well as in the middle of the night, and Frank grew tired of being “on call”. The next day, Big Hide wrote down the recipe for Jess, who put it in his pocket while Frank was standing there. Frank was never called again by Jess. Big Hide Tolley officially retired in 1964, and soon after, Jess Gamble retired, leaving Frank Bobo as Jack Daniel’s Master Distiller #5.

After Jess Gamble passed away, his relatives found the piece of paper below, hidden in a box of Rook playing cards. They took it to Frank Bobo, who told them the story of the handwritten recipe, which has now been framed and donated to the Distillery:

Jess Gamble’s path to becoming the Master Distiller of Jack Daniel’s was anything but conventional. Unlike his predecessors, Gamble was not a member of the Daniel family, making his appointment a significant departure from tradition. Further, Gamble’s tenure came at a time of change and growth for the brand, as Jack Daniel’s was gaining increasing recognition on the international stage. Despite his non-familial ties, Gamble was deeply dedicated to maintaining the exacting standards that had defined Jack Daniel’s for nearly a century. Under his leadership, the distillery continued to adhere to the Lincoln County Process. Gamble was also known for his hands-on approach, often working directly with his team to ensure every barrel met the high standards expected of Jack Daniel’s whiskey. His time as leader of the brand demonstrated that tradition and innovation could coexist, paving the way for future generations of whiskey makers. Today, the legacy of Jess Gamble serves as a reminder of the passion and dedication required to uphold the quality and reputation of Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Whiskey.

Relatively little has ever been written about the quiet, humble, hard-working, orphaned teetotaler who was, very briefly, Jack Daniel’s fourth Master Distiller. After retirement, he remained in Lynchburg, but shunned the limelight and detested having his picture made. Jess Gamble died on April 29, 1988, at his residence in Lynchburg.

Contributed by Robert Pomerenk, Athens, Alabama

Reference: Maxwell’s House Forum, Jess Gamble-MD#4, October 2011