An Old Friend came to visit

[Guest]

Sounds like a combination worth trying Gillman, cheers.

Come to think of it the character of JD is such that it would probably make some really interesting vattings, im going to try vatting with bulleit rye, I find bulleit rye makes an ordinary cocktail base on its own, taking the rye percentage down might help, I think a JD/bulleit sazerac is on the cards.

[Quantum]

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

I prefer to chase it with Mountain Dew, which I really don't care for otherwise. It just seems to bring out the best flavors of each.

I've never been an JD drinker, but every once in a while I get an itch for it with a twist of lime. I used pick up a 375 once a year or so, but my wife kept tossing it out. She swears she can smell the bananas through a closed bottle.

[BigRich]

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.

Same here...unless I'm at Joe's house then I sneak into his bourbon dungeon for other tasty delights.

Generally, I don't buy Jack but I'll never turn down an offered glass.

[Gillman]

Interesting about the bananas comments. Maybe I am getting used to JD because I almost don't see it anymore, there is a fruity taste but I can't distinguish peach from banana from papaya anymore. Maybe it's me, but I do feel too the brand has improved significantly in recent years. It's not just the release of higher proof versions including SB in the last 10 years, the batches are being selected more carefully IMO, and therefore, I wonder if people are basing more on experience of some years back (with which I fully agree). Anyway good to see the comments that people mostly won't refuse a glass, I agree with that since it is a characterful whiskey although understandably not everyone will select it as a favourite.

You guys who do the local get-togethers (wish I could join you), why don't you do a blind tasting of bourbons and a JD, ideally SB or an 86 or 90 but even the 80 if necessary? As long as all the proofs are in the ballpark it shouldn't matter. It would be interesting to hear the results. You could either tell people a Jack is included, or not.

Gary

[squire]

I would certainly include it in a blind tasting.

[Brisko]

Interesting about the bananas comments. Maybe I am getting used to JD because I almost don't see it anymore, there is a fruity taste but I can't distinguish peach from banana from papaya anymore. Maybe it's me, but I do feel too the brand has improved significantly in recent years. It's not just the release of higher proof versions including SB in the last 10 years, the batches are being selected more carefully IMO, and therefore, I wonder if people are basing more on experience of some years back (with which I fully agree). Anyway good to see the comments that people mostly won't refuse a glass, I agree with that since it is a characterful whiskey although understandably not everyone will select it as a favourite.

You guys who do the local get-togethers (wish I could join you), why don't you do a blind tasting of bourbons and a JD, ideally SB or an 86 or 90 but even the 80 if necessary? As long as all the proofs are in the ballpark it shouldn't matter. It would be interesting to hear the results. You could either tell people a Jack is included, or not.

Gary

Last bottle I bought was pretty good. I think I wrote some notes around here, too. But to the point, the banana notes are pretty minimal compared to say, the late 90s (which was a period when I was going through a lot of Jack).

[BourbonGuy]

Years ago, maybe 15 years, give or take, my Uncle Joe was a Dickel and Daniels guy. So that is always what I brought him for Thanksgiving. I personally never cared for it. Again, going back, I went into my liquor store and looking around. The owner came up to me and asked to help. I mentioned I wanted to break the Daniels tradition with something else. He reached up and grabbed a bottle of Pappy 15. Now, this was when he had 5 bottles of ORVW 10, ten bottles of Pappy 15 and 5 bottles of Pappy 20. I was horrified at the price. "$50 for Pappy 15? The Jack Daniels is $25" He assured me it was worth every penny. I gave it a smell and taste and have been a bourbon man ever since. Having said that, last year my staff got me a bottle of Jack Daniel that I have not tried in many years. The smell (it must be me) was not pleasing. I varnish remover smell. I initally thought there was dishwasher residue in the glass. I got a clean glass, sniffed it to be sure, and the same smell. It tasted better than I thought it would. I sweetness in the finish that I enjoyed. I don't buy it. As there are others I prefer.

[T Comp]

. Having said that, last year my staff got me a bottle of Jack Daniel that I have not tried in many years. The smell (it must be me) was not pleasing. I varnish remover smell. I initally thought there was dishwasher residue in the glass. I got a clean glass, sniffed it to be sure, and the same smell. It tasted better than I thought it would. I sweetness in the finish that I enjoyed. I don't buy it. As there are others I prefer.

Not just you BourbonGuy. Here is a thread, started in 2000 with posts in 2004, and discussion of that smell as mentioned by Gillman, Cowdery, TNbourbon (rest in peace) and ratcheer. Gary in post 20 posits the scent derives from the maple leeching of Jack but I (and others) also get this smell with most other B-F whiskey too. Great stuff as to whether Jack is truly doubled or not in this thread also.

http://www.straightbourbon.com/forums/showthread.php?280-Jack-Daniels/page2

[BourbonGuy]

T Comp: Thank you for that post. I am new to this forum and have learned a lot. So when Squire describes the nose as "The initial aroma is caramel sweet" and I am thinking varnish, I stop and wonder. Most bourbons I nose are caramel sweet. But Jack's just really made me wonder if something was wrong. I have heard on the Modern Marvels DVD that is smelled like fresh grass or a farm. Which again, made me stop and wonder.

[squire]

Thanks Thad, that thread was worth revisiting.

[Merrymash Monk]

Nice notes, Squire. As I was reading them I could just about taste and smell JD. I haven't bought a bottle in years but will often order a Jack on the rocks in a restaurant and enjoy it thoroughly. Like your guests, I enjoy it before- or with a meal. The sweet taste of it seems to go good with most food, and its not a bad sipper either.