Owners to receive original painting of Innis by famed wildlife artist Jim Killen

LYNCHBURG, Tenn. – Innis, a yellow Labrador retriever from Holland, Mich., has been selected as the 2010 Jack Daniel's Single Barrel-Ducks Unlimited "Dog of the Year." As part of the winning package, Innis will be featured in the Single Barrel gift tin package available this fall and his owners, Tim and Lisa Gort, will receive an original painting of their dog by famed wildlife artist Jim Killen.

The Jack Daniel's Single Barrel brand asked consumers to submit a story about their yellow Lab and what made it so special. The story submitted by Innis' owners struck a special chord with the judges, who were unanimous in his selection as 2010 Dog of the Year:

From the owner's winning entry:

In March of 2009, my 5 year old faithful companion Innis was diagnosed with cancer in his knee joint. In April his left hind leg was amputated and I thought this would most likely be the end of his hunting career. However, his desire and his love of the outdoors did not stop him. On the opening of the 2009 duck season, Innis made a long retrieve and a blind retrieve as he always had. His next big test would be our annual pheasant hunting trip to Minnesota which he passed with flying colors. Innis has been an inspiration to me. He has shown me that even when life is not going our way, we should not let it get us down and we should keep doing what we love. He is my faithful friend and companion.

"Jack Daniel's Single Barrel is proud to work with our partners at Ducks Unlimited and to help in supporting their mission," said Mark Grindstaff, U.S. marketing director for the Jack Daniel's Family of Brands. "The story of Innis highlights that special bond between all of us and our pets."

2010 will mark the fifth year of Jack Daniel's Single Barrel partnership with Ducks Unlimited. Each year, Jack Daniel's donates a portion of the sale of each commemorative gift set and bottle to Ducks Unlimited. To date, more than $500,000 has been donated to help Ducks Unlimited efforts in conserving, restoring and managing wetlands that are associated habitats for North America's waterfowl.

"To Ducks Unlimited supporters, dogs are special members of the family. Jack Daniel's Single Barrel is a special member of our DU family, as well," said Philip Milburn, director of marketing & corporate relations for Ducks Unlimited. "The brand has helped us conserve thousands of acres for wildlife and places for dogs to be dogs."

About Jack Daniel's Single Barrel

Jack Daniel's Single Barrel Tennessee Whiskey is the world's only charcoal-mellowed single barrel Tennessee whiskey. After the spirit is charcoal mellowed, each barrel of Jack Daniel's Single Barrel is matured in selected areas of the warehouses where the whiskey's color and taste deepen and mature an extra measure during the changing Tennessee seasons. Our Master Tasters then sample the whiskey from those areas and sets aside the barrels whose contents they feel have matured to create a particularly flavorful and aromatic whiskey. The bold, full-bodied taste of Jack Daniel's Single Barrel Tennessee Whiskey—toasted oak flavor and intense vanilla and caramel essences—is the work of craftsmen with a singular devotion to old-time whiskey-making. To learn more, please visit www.jdsinglebarrel.com.