Well, it's time I entered some notes on this American icon. Let's see, I know I've got a bottle still hanging around from my last party... where is it... oh. I've got three. Um... anyhow... the nose is light, sweet, with hints of coal and dust. The palate is relatively indistinct. Lighter-bodied, and very mildly sweet (yet there's nothing "dry" about this). There's some nutty hints, with caramel and vanilla traces. But on the whole, there's just not a lot here -- I guess that's the whole idea behind the Lincoln County process (which is what makes Tennessee Whiskey what it is). The finish is medium length, with excessive heat for 40%. So overall -- I mean, it's JD, it's an American institution. And I think I'll leave the nicer things to say to the Jack Daniel's aficionados. In my opinion, this has earned a rightful place as the King of Mixing Whiskey.
N: Sharp and woody with some rye. P: Round and sweet, a bit oily, and really mellow (guess that Tennessee process really works). F: Sugar and a hint of charcoal. Although I won't be buying more bottles of Jack anytime soon, I really can see why it's so popular. A great deal for the price.
N: Some corn sweetness and moderate wood influence. Very faintly piney. Faint top notes of toffee and caramel; somewhat spirity for the ABV.
P: Light but slightly syrupy. Some mild wood; caramel, vanilla, a trace of corn.
F: Quite fast but gently waming. Vanilla hangs out with a bit of caramel, a touch of fruit (apples?) late in the finish.
It always surprises me how light Jack is. There's some nice stuff happening on the top end but there's not a lot to anchor it. If there was just a little more this would slide up just a bit, but it's shy of being into B-range for me. Not bad, totally drinkable, a fine mixer and versatile.
NOSE The second you’re sniffing Jack you know you’re sniffing Jack. There is a very strong astringent Jack spice that comes up first and foremost. Under that strong ambiguous spice are hints of oily charcoal, maple, brown sugar, wood, some soft sweet grains and overripe citrus.
TASTE The nose is altogether not too unpleasant. All tied together it’s not bad, but for me the taste is where it all falls apart. It starts with a strong medicinal caramel followed by some soot and burnt toffee. Swimming around in that glass are also some notes of imitation vanilla, burnt cherry pie and a slight yeastiness to it that reminds me a bit of Jim Beam white. Overall there is a strange chemically taste that runs through the whole thing. On the rocks it tightens up and brings out a bit more of the caramel.
FINISH Caramel syrup fades to corn and oily wood. The aftertaste sticks around for a while.
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