Brown-Forman announced its longtime master distiller, Jeff Arnett, is “stepping down.”

In an email, Arnett revealed he left on his own accord.  “It was fully my decision to resign from Jack Daniel’s and I have big plans for the future that I‘d love to share with you when the time is appropriate,” said Arnett, who noted the best way to keep up with him publicly for now is Instagram.

In a press release, the company said the 20-year Jack Daniel veteran, who was named master distiller in April 2008, Arnett had been “instrumental” to the Jack’s success and helped make it the Number 1 selling whiskey in the world.

“It was fully my decision to resign from Jack Daniel’s and I have big plans for the future that I‘d love to share with you when the time is appropriate.”

Jeff Arnett, former master distiller of Jack Daniel’s

“The last 20 years at the Jack Daniel Distillery have been an incredible chapter in my life and I look forward to spending some time to think about what the next chapter will hold,” said Arnett. “I wish everyone in Lynchburg the best and I am appreciative of the support and confidence they have shown in me to represent Jack Daniel’s to the world during my time there. It has been an honor and privilege to be one of only a handful of people to have served as the Master Distiller of this wonderful brand known around the world as simply ‘Jack’.” 

The distillery said it would have an announcement on Arnett’s replacement in the coming weeks.