Dickel - What's Diageo's Problem?

[cowdery]

I wish I knew how much Evan Williams sells, but privately-owned Heaven Hill doesn't give out sales figures. I know it's number three behind Jack and Jim. I suspect it's a very distant number three but I don't know for sure.

[tmckenzie]

I did notice they have a new website. Better than their old one. I love the stuff. It has always been the whiskey I will treat myself with. I just wish it was not so damned expensive up here. A 750 of the cascade hollow is 24 bucks and it gets higher from there.

[flintlock]

It's just really, really nice whiskey. I only wish it was 100 proof.

The distillery has to be among the hardest to find in the country - I got lost both going and coming when I swung by there on the way up to the Sampler. Whoever settled Cascade Hollow must have found it by accident...

[boss302]

George Dickel No. 8 has become my "Daily Sipper." I have plenty of real, authentic "Bourbon" whiskeys in my collection, but sitting back with a couple glasses of No. 8 is one of life's simple pleasures. I simply cannot find a "bourbon-esque" whiskey of more smoothness, refinement, and affordability than George Dickel No. 8.

[Gillman]

Tasting the current George Dickel Barrel Select which is - for once the word is justified - a smooth, characterful drink of whiskey. No taste of "crunchy vitamins", which characterized the brand (all iterations) some years ago IMO and I found off-putting. A silkier shot of U.S. whiskey would be hard to envisage. Kudos to Dickel for putting a renewed emphasis on this brand at least - now I'll try the others again.

Gary

[sutton]

Tasting the current George Dickel Barrel Select which is - for once the word is justified - a smooth, characterful drink of whiskey. No taste of "crunchy vitamins", which characterized the brand (all iterations) some years ago IMO and I found off-putting. A silkier shot of U.S. whiskey would be hard to envisage. Kudos to Dickel for putting a renewed emphasis on this brand at least - now I'll try the others again.

Gary

Hi Gary,

When was yours bottled? Mine is from 2006, and I found a strong charcoal note on the finish - I just opened it and I'm hoping this will fade over time...

[Gillman]

The bottle was recently bought in Florida but looking at the label, I see it states on the back "Hand Selected in 2006", so perhaps it was bottled five years ago. I don't detect any charcoal scents - some Dickel does have that, but not this one. Perhaps they differ (the various bottlings) to some degree, being a small batch. I would think the charcoal notes will lift over time, I find this occurs in general with Tennessee whiskey. Anyway this bottle was a winner and I'll deinitely try Dickel again (any brand of it).

Gary

[StraightBoston]

Anyway this bottle was a winner and I'll deinitely try Dickel again (any brand of it).

A brave statement, Gary -- I always enjoy No. 12 but I find the 3yo red-label Cascade Hollow to be unforgivably hot and harsh!

[Gillman]

I agree, I meant the black and beige labels. I tried the red label twice and was very disappointed. But I'll give the others a try for sure based on the quality of this small batch bottling.

Gary

[cowdery]

The Dickel distillery at its best makes a very well-balanced whiskey.