An Old Friend came to visit

[squire]

After the conclusion of a long, tiring several days rounds of negotiations a group of lawyers were sitting in my office after hours and needed to unwind so I offered drinks. Whatcha got I was asked, oh, just about anything you want, we have a fairly complete bar. Ok, I'll have some Jack Daniels. Don't have any I said, but I do have some very good Bourbons to choose from.

She looked at me and in a level voice said, "Most people think of Jack Daniels as whisky, but to me he's an old friend".

Poured her a Van Winkle expression which she liked but her comment stayed with me. To the Country at large What more quintessential expression of Southern hospitality is there than a glass of Jack Daniels.

So we had some dinner guests last night who like Jack for a pre dinner cocktail and I got some for them. Finals were over yesterday, the kids are scattered, I have a day or two of solitude so I thought I would sit down and get reacquainted with Jack in the geeky way understood here. This is not a review, just some observations.

This is a more robust whisky than one would think given the initial heavy charcoal filtering. Due in part I believe to Daniels using several yeast strands to bring out more esters (I'm probably using the incorrect technical term, just saying moreish something) but it has a thickish body with multiple slow legs, The initial aroma is caramel sweet which surprised me, thought I'd get the oak and charcoal influence first, but also got the sweetness on entry and mid palate before the old familiar kicked in. Not what it once was but still recognizable to those who know it, like an aging star athlete who past middle age can still show flashes of prowess on the tennis court.

Clean, straight forward, well made stuff that should stand up well to mixers which is how I expect most folks take it. There's been some posting around here about Jack recently, so I'm glad I had the opportunity for a revisit though I won't be buying the black label for my own use, the green perhaps but that would be a small bottle just to see if rumors of additional copper influence impact my taste buds enough to notice a difference.

Like my Father before me, I prefer Old Grand Dad.

[Gillman]

Good notes. I always keep some Jack around. It is good that Brown-Forman saw the wisdom finally of reintroducing 86 and 90 proof versions via various limited or special editions, however the regular Black Label still offers a good example of what Jack is. (I too will seek the Green Label to see if anything different can be detected).

As is my wont, I blend my own Jack, I keep at it until I get the required full rich creamy taste - estery is good but I like the banana shake thing kept at a minimum. Cherry and coconut are fine. I use all the expressions and currently I have one with 80, 86 and Silver Select. My next additions are Single Barrel and Gentleman Jack. Ultimately possibly Green Label.

I had the chance to taste some JD from 30 years ago a couple of years back and it was recognizable to the current one as The Squire says but much better I thought. It actually was more restrained in flavour: all the same elements but less which suits the drink I think. I wonder what has changed. I know B-F has some way of toasting and then charring the barrel and I'd doubt this was done 30 years ago and more. I think it is intended to bring out the sweetness but the drink doesn't need extra sweetness IMO.

Gary

Edited December 14, 2013 by Gillman

[tigerlam92]

Hahaha. Gentlemen Jack is definite my good old friend as well. That was my start of whiskey drinking. Back then it was Gentlemen Jack and coke back when I was young.

Funny, this past Monday, at a restaurant I had many Gentlemen Jack with some friends and it was good - with the memories and connections tied to it.

Cheers,

Hugh

[suntour]

You know my introduction to whiskey was really through Jack Daniel's, I remember my dad having a nice pour over ice after work and smelling it on his breath. I really need to sit down and contemplate it, I'm not sure I've ever had a neat pour of it.

Should I just start with the regular black label or one of the more limited expressions?

[TunnelTiger]

Never drank a lot of Jack because it's the only whiskey my said she couldn't stand on my breath.

[squire]

Should I just start with the regular black label or one of the more limited expressions?

The best way to drink Jack is out of a half pint bottle followed by a slug of coke at a football game.

[PaulO]

The last time I had regular Jack was a little bottle on an airplane. I was flying on Thanksgiving day. The airline offered everybody a free drink. The only time I've had Gentleman Jack was at a wedding. It was the best American whiskey they had. There was no bourbon around. In both cases, I was happy to choose the Jack over light beer, table wine, or cheap Scotch.

[Gillman]

Jack and light beer go very well together! (Must be the corn connection).

Tasting now my current JD vatting: 2 Black Labels, 1 86 proof, 1 Silver Select.

Yellow fruit/maple/earthy - the typical JD complex of flavours. Some white dog in there too, the "rooty" notes of Chuck noted in his book are apparent but I like that, that is its whiskey DNA coming through, not wiped out by the charcoal filtration or barrel wood.

Very distinctive taste is Jack, quite different to Kentucky Bourbon IMO. Perhaps less full-bodied but more flavourful, sort of a Dr. Pepper vs. Coke and Pepsi.

Gary

[B.B. Babington]

A lot of folks on this board like to dis Jack, but that might be because it is very popular with the masses. And true, most of it's popularity is label/brand recognition over quality. Most of the folks that say "jack is Best" have never had anything better. But, with that said, Jack is a solid, respectable, decent sip. I was reminded of that when making some pecan pies that called for Jack. Recipe said Jack so I put Jack in it. Of course I had to sip while pouring it in, and enjoyed the sip, and the next one, and the next one...

[WAINWRIGHT]

Vosgar and I went to a PGA tour event this summer and we were in a hospitality suite with the usual suspects and settled on JD for our pour of choice for that given day.I have to agree it is a solid pour and is beat up quite a bit,but it is consistent and readily available and sells like hell so they must be doing something right.

[smokinjoe]

Vosgar and I went to a PGA tour event this summer and we were in a hospitality suite with the usual suspects and settled on JD for our pour of choice for that given day.I have to agree it is a solid pour and is beat up quite a bit,but it is consistent and readily available and sells like hell so they must be doing something right.

That's my feeling, too. Solid pour. Nothing wrong with JD in my book. I don't buy it by the bottle, but have no problem with drinking it, while out.

[deathevocation]

I like JD. Have quite a bit on hand albeit I don't get through it that fast.

[dmarkle]

I personally get hit in the face with the banana right on the nose and that puts me off a bit.

That being said, I wouldn't dream of not having a bottle in the case for friends who like it. There is no substitute, IMO. Jim Beam can be swapped successfully with 10 different (better) whiskies, but I just have never had a profile like JD in any other whiskey...

[squire]

Try some Dickel 12.

[TunnelTiger]

Agree with that Squire, GD12 blows JD away. Matter of fact having some in my coffee right now.

[VAGentleman]

Dickel 12 is great stuff but its way different as far as taste and profile to JD

[smokinjoe]

GD and JD are totally different flavor profiles. Interesting that they both share the Lincoln County Process, and designations as "Tennessee Whiskey", but are as different as night and day. I would say that the Daniel's is closer to a "standard" bourbon profile (if there is such a thing), while the Dickel has that strange "vitamin" note that (which I appreciate as a house style, and quite enjoy), that sets it out a bit. I have always thought that the house style of Dickel would make it more approachable to Scotch drinkers. Though I prefer GD of the two, both are fine whiskies, in my opinion. If you start bringin' JD Silver Select into the equation...then the tables probably turn...:yum:

[squire]

I don't find them that different, more cousins than brothers perhaps but family traits are evident.

[Flyfish]

Dickel 12 is great stuff but its way different as far as taste and profile to JD

[squire]

To a large extent, yes.

[TheNovaMan]

Did GD12 change recently, or was it just a minor label change?

It's been so long since I had any Tennessee whiskey, I really ought to buy a bottle or two and reintroduce myself to the style.

[VAGentleman]

Minor label change. Juice still tastes the same

[squire]

As nearly as I can tell Dickel has remained largely unchanged since even its Pre-Prohibition days.

[Guest]

GD and JD are totally different flavor profiles. Interesting that they both share the Lincoln County Process, and designations as "Tennessee Whiskey", but are as different as night and day. I would say that the Daniel's is closer to a "standard" bourbon profile (if there is such a thing), while the Dickel has that strange "vitamin" note that (which I appreciate as a house style, and quite enjoy), that sets it out a bit. I have always thought that the house style of Dickel would make it more approachable to Scotch drinkers. Though I prefer GD of the two, both are fine whiskies, in my opinion. If you start bringin' JD Silver Select into the equation...then the tables probably turn...:yum:

Vitamin note is a great way to describe it, I have been struggling with a descriptor since buying my first bottle recently and this is it. That being said it is a very nice whiskey and will more than likely become a regular purchase.

[Gillman]

Try the two blended, it's the Tennessee Waltz. I like 2:1 Jack to George, in fact it reminds me more of JD 30 years ago.

I believe it was Jeff Yeast, a BOTY whom we rarely see on the board today, who first used the term "vitamins" to describe the GD palate, and so true it is. But when you blend it with the Jack in the proportion suggested, the vitamins are ingested in the blend to do their good work so to speak and you don't notice it. At the same time, the rich yellow fruit/earthy taste of Jack is brought down a notch.

Gary