Jack Daniels, Charcoal and Bourbon?

[musekatcher]

I just noticed the SB FAQ states that Jack Daniels is not a bourbon, because:

 

" the Lincoln County Process, infuses a sweet and sooty character into the distillate as it removes impurities. But up to and after the charcoal filtering, the Jack Daniel's production is much the same as any other Bourbon. Jack Daniel's and George Dickel are two fine Tennessee Whiskeys though neither can be called bourbon "

 

We know its controversial, and JD themselves refuse to use the term "bourbon" for their products, but there are several legal labelled bourbons that filter with charcoal?  I'd agree with JD if they want, that their products aren't to be called bourbon, but it doesn't seem correct to disqualify bourbon based on charcoal filtering?  I looked thru a couple searches, plenty of opinions, most conclude charcoal and filtering don't violate bourbon requirements.  What's the answer?

[Prof_Stack]

I've heard it both ways.  I think JD likes the moniker "Tennessee Whiskey" to distinguish it from Kentucky products.

Edited December 30, 2016 by Prof_Stack

[mbroo5880i]

Oh Boy!  There are two sides to this issue.  Some say that the term "Tennessee Whiskey" is solely a marketing ploy memorialized in regulation and case law, and JD and GD legally meet the definition of bourbon because they have essentially the same grain mashbill, distillation proof and aged in new charred oak barrels.  Others will say that the difference, as spelled out in regulation and case law, is that the Lincoln County Process modifies the distillate before it is placed in the barrel, while bourbon filtration occurs after aging in the barrel.   

[musekatcher]

6 minutes ago, mbroo5880i said:

 the Lincoln County Process modifies the distillate before it is placed in the barrel, while bourbon filtration occurs after aging in the barrel.   

 

That makes sense, and why one method has a name, and the other isn't much mentioned.  It looks like neither is precluded from bourbon conformity though.  I can believe you'd get a different maturation in the barrel with or without the impurities.  I suppose the mystery turns to which is "better" 

[mbroo5880i]

I believe Chuck Cowdery wrote about this on his blog several years ago.  You might be able to Google it.  If not, I can try to find it when I get home later. 

[musekatcher]

1 hour ago, mbroo5880i said:

I believe Chuck Cowdery wrote about this on his blog several years ago.  You might be able to Google it.  If not, I can try to find it when I get home later. 

 Found it - thanks!

http://chuckcowdery.blogspot.com/2015/07/we-find-jack-daniels-is-bourbon-smoking.html

[Limegoldconvertible68]

And I always thought they choose to call it Tennessee Whiskey because it just wasn't good enough to be called Kentucky Straight Bourbon. 

[Tennessee Dave]

Interestingly Heaven Hills BIB 6 year old states right on the bottle that it is charcoal filtered.

[fishnbowljoe]

13 minutes ago, Tennessee Dave said:

Interestingly Heaven Hills BIB 6 year old states right on the bottle that it is charcoal filtered.

The type of charcoal filtering used in this instance is completely different from the Lincol County Process.

[meadeweber]

On 12/30/2016 at 7:13 PM, fishnbowljoe said:

The type of charcoal filtering used in this instance is completely different from the Lincol County Process.

Really?  How so?  Is it done after aging?

[Richnimrod]

1 hour ago, meadeweber said:

Really?  How so?  Is it done after aging?

I believe all the filtering, whether with charcoal, or just chill-filtering done by the majors is done before bottling; but, after the barrels are dumped.

[TheNovaMan]

6 hours ago, meadeweber said:

Really?  How so?  Is it done after aging?

 

The Lincoln County process starts with a pile of maple wood, which is then set on fire.  After it burns down to coals, it's hosed down with water to cool it off, and it gets transferred into the filter vats from there.  The distillate is passed through charcoal filters before being barreled.  I'm sure I'm missing a few logistical details (perhaps sieving and/or rinsing the charcoal), but that's the gist of it.  This process removes some components of the distillate, but the distillate also leeches out some components from the charcoal.

 

Some Bourbons are also charcoal filtered, but as Richnimrod pointed out, it's done after the barrels are dumped.  I can't prove it, but I would bet my own money that the "charcoal" used to filter bourbon is activated carbon, which is quite a bit different than what's used in the Lincoln County process.  Activated carbon will remove some components of the bourbon, but it should not leech anything into the bourbon.  That, in my mind, is the major difference.