Motlow Distilling Company
The Jack Daniel Distilling Company moved to Birmingham from Lynchburg, Tennessee after 1910 when Tennessee passed prohibition laws. The business started in 1913 at 2431 2nd Avenue North and operated under the direction of Lem Motlow, nephew of Jack Daniel. Motlow also bottled his own whiskey under the name Motlow Distilling Company. The distillery only lasted for two years until Alabama passed its own liquor control laws. The company moved briefly to St Louis before national prohibition forced them out of business. Motlow eventually re-opened the Lynchburg distillery -- able to produce, but not sell, its product in Lincoln County.
Bottles embossed with either name and "Birmingham, Ala." are avidly collected by aficionados of Jack Daniel's memorabilia. Lem's cousin Frank "Spoon" Motlow operated Motlow's Saloon in Birmingham. A painted advertisement for "Motlow's Corn and Jack Daniell's No. 7 Lincoln County Whiskies" can still be seen on the corner of 2nd Avenue North and 24th Street.