A dark fungal growth has coated Lincoln County and it only seems to grow with exposure to alcohol vapours from ageing Jack Daniel's whiskey barrels. The unpleasant substance has coated homes, cars, furniture and road signs with a soot-like crust, making the town look like something from zombie TV series, The Last of Us.
The growth, known as whiskey fungus, has thrived in distilleries and bakeries for centuries and is fuelled by the ethanol produced by alcohol-related products.
However, homeowners in the area are at their whits end with the fungus and it's causing disputes between Lincoln County and Jack Daniel's.
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For months now, residents have been complaining of the fungus having spread uncontrollably due to the wafts of alcohol vapours from each of the six Jack Daniel's barrelhouses used for ageing whiskey in the rural location. Jack Daniel's are also in talks with the county about six additional barrelhouses.
Jack Daniel's representative Donna Willis explained to county officials that 14 barrelhouses would create $1 million in annual property tax revenue, but residents are still not pleased about the expansion.
Christi Long, owner of a mansion built in 1900 used for weddings and events, sued the county in January on the grounds that some of the barrelhouses near her century-old property lacked the right permits.
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Christi and her husband, Patrick Long say that the whiskey fungus has taken over their property, encompassing the roof and exterior walls.
The couple use a high-pressure hose to clean down the property with Clorox bleach and water every three months, but the fungus returns with a vengeance. Christi believes that Lincoln County will be "black as coal" unless Jack Daniel's installs air filters in their barrelhouses.
Dead animals have been spotted in areas that are overrun by the fungus, but it's not known whether it was the cause of their deaths.
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“This fungus now is on steroids,” she said.
The spreading fungus is being described as 'The Last of Us Season 2' by people on Twitter.
Ms. Willis, director of technical services, maintenance and barrel distribution at Jack Daniel's said that studies show the fungus is not hazardous to human health and does not cause damage to properties.
“Could it be a nuisance? Yeah, sure. And it can easily be remedied by having it washed off.” said Ms. Willis.
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However, Jack Daniel's have not agreed to power-washing the homes themselves as they could be liable for any damage caused.
Ms. Willis has also commented that air filters could hurt the flavour of the whiskey.
James A. Scott, a professor at Dalla Lana School of Public Health, Toronto has studied the fungus since 2001.
Dr Scott said in an email: “The fungus is pretty destructive, and the only way to stop it is to turn off its alcohol supply,”
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“It wrecks patio furniture, house siding, almost any outdoor surface. I’ve seen trees choked to death by it. It is a small mercy that it does not also appear to have a negative impact on human health.”
Harley Young