Jack Daniel’s (Jack Daniels)

Jack Daniel’s is the most popular US whiskey brand with over 6 million bottles sold annually. Before Prohibition in the United States, there were many liquor producers in Tennessee, today there are only two “dinosaurs” – Jack Daniel’s and George Dickel.

Both distilleries made regular bourbon until 1941. But then the state government decided that thanks to a special filtration technique, Tennessee whiskeys were worthy of having the status of geographical origin. All products manufactured in the state became known as Tennessee Sour Mash – “Tennessee whiskey from sour mash.”

Production technology

It is the process of cold filtration using charcoal that determines the unique taste of the drink and rich aroma. This method was invented by Alfred Eaton, but was named after the county where it was first applied – Lincoln County process (Lincoln County process). It is generally accepted that Jack Daniel built his distillery just in the place where the Eton factory was located before. The Lincoln process is the only technological difference between Tennessee whiskey and bourbon.

Tourists visiting the Jack Daniel’s Distillery in Lynchburg are shown all the stages of whiskey production, from the moment maple logs are burned. This process has been turned into a show and worked out to the smallest detail. Special plant workers pour water over huge masonry of burning logs: if you do not control the temperature of the fire, you will get ash, not coal. The resulting maple charcoal is filled with huge column filters, then Tennessee whiskey is filtered drop by drop through this charcoal for a whole week.

Since the filtration takes place before the spirits are poured into the barrels, and not before bottling, the already filtered, clean whiskey is aged in charred oak barrels, which will absorb the aroma and shades of wood. Purified whiskey acquires softness, roundness and a pleasant light smokiness. After that, the drink is sent for aging. Visitors are offered to try fresh whiskey (White Lightning) and unaged, but filtered – the difference is huge.

Jack Daniel’s whiskey story

The history of the brand dates back to 1866, when Jack Daniel purchased a site near Lynchburg, where there was a source of spring water filtered by limestone. This land was formerly part of Lincoln County and is now part of Moore County. In the same year, Daniel was the first in the United States to register his whiskey distillery. At that time, the founder of the brand was no more than 20 years old – the documents on his birth were not preserved, so the exact year of birth is not known. Despite such a young age, Jack had a very extensive knowledge: he bought his first alembic at the age of 14 and made good money on the preparation of alcoholic beverages.

In the eighties, Jack was joined by his nephew Lem Motlow, who convinced his uncle to sell whiskey not in barrels or ceramic jugs, but in bottles. This was a strategic decision – bottled whiskey could be exported. Another important milestone for the brand is 1895, when Daniel was shown a square bottle. Since then, Jack Daniel’s whiskey has been bottled in such containers. Initially, the label on the bottles was green, but after Jack’s death in 1911, the color was changed to black.

The brand is now owned by Brown-Forman. Since 2008, the seventh master distiller, Jeff Arrnet, has been at the helm of production.

Awards

For more than a century and a half of the existence of the whiskey distillery, Jack Daniels has received many awards:

• 1904 – Gold medal at the World’s Fair in St. Louis;
• 1905 – Gold medal at the World Exhibition in the Belgian city of Liege;
• 1913 – Gold medal at the Whiskey Competition in Ghent;
• 1914 – Gold medal at the Anglo-American Exhibition in London;
• 1915 – Gold Medal and Certificate of the Institute of Hygiene in London;
• 1954 – Quality Star in Brussels;
• 1981 – Gold medal with palm leaves in Amsterdam.

These awards are dedicated to a special series of whiskey “Gold Medals”, produced from 1996 to 2006.

Interesting Facts

1. Jack’s real name is Jasper Newton Daniel.
2. The plot of land on which the distillery is located today was purchased by Daniel for $2148. At that time, this was a huge amount, and few people would have parted with money so easily, acquiring a wasteland. True, the land was located next to the cave, from which the Cave Spring spring flowed with fabulously clear water.
3. The maturation casks are made from white oak and are used only once, after which the company sells them to brewers, Scotch whiskey and sauce producers. Each barrel is assembled from 33 planks connected without the use of nails or glue.
4. Whiskey is produced in the “dry” Moore County, where the sale of alcoholic beverages is still prohibited, so you can only buy whiskey directly at the distillery or through the distillery’s website.
5. Frank Sinatra was one of the brand’s most loyal fans: the musician was even buried with a bottle of Jack Daniel’s Old No.7.

6. There are several myths about the appearance of the name Old No.7 of varying degrees of reliability. Romantics believe that under the “seven” the number of girls to whom Jack was not indifferent at various times is encrypted. Perhaps this is how Daniel designated the most successful recipe, the seventh in a row. Another version concerns the story of the loss of a batch of whiskey, which was carried by train number 7.

How to drink Jack Daniel’s whiskey

The ideal temperature for Jack Daniels is room temperature, between 18-22 °C. At higher temperatures, the taste becomes hard, too chilled whiskey loses its rich aroma. Most connoisseurs of Tennessee whiskey are inclined to believe that it is right to drink it undiluted.

The only thing that can complete the magic of a bouquet is a good cigar.

Types of whiskey Jack Daniel’s

• Jack Daniels, 40%. Classic whiskey of a noble amber-golden hue. Spices, nuts, vanilla are felt in the aroma. The taste is elegant, full-bodied, multi-layered, caramel notes appear first, and then a bright smack of smoke.
• Jack Daniel’s Old No7, 40%. The most “titled” brand whiskey. It has a sweet aroma with tones of burnt caramel, milk chocolate, figs, tobacco. On the palate there are notes of vanilla, wood, sweet fruits, toffee. The aftertaste is long, bright, warm, with notes of oak, vanilla, with an ice-cream finish.
• Jack Daniels Tennessee Honey, 35%. Whiskey based on honey liqueur is an excellent choice for the fair sex. It has a pronounced honey flavor and aroma. The finish is long, enveloping, fruity.
• Gentleman Jack, 40%. Whiskey has a pleasant aroma with tones of burnt oak, light nutty and citrus intonations. The harmonious taste is enriched with hints of liquorice and spices, the special softness and smoothness are ensured by repeated filtration after maturation. There is a legend according to which Jack developed the drink recipe for one of his mistresses, hence its name.
• Jack Daniel’s Unaged Rye, 40%. Unaged white whiskey with a unique grain composition: 70% rye, 18% corn and 12% barley malt. The aroma is smooth and fresh, with malty notes, floral tones, woody nuances. The taste is balanced, bright, with tones of ginger.
• Jack Daniel’s White Rabbit Saloon, 43%. The release of the limited edition was timed to coincide with the 120th anniversary of the White Rabbit bar, opened by Jack Daniel. The aroma is quite intense, with hints of vanilla, caramel, lollipops, spices, there are bright oak notes. The taste is sweet, soft, rounded, there are notes of baked apple, banana, there is a slight tannin. The aftertaste is salty, with a slight nutty bitterness.
• Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel Rye, 47%. Whiskey category super premium, subjected to double charcoal filtration. The bottle contains the date of bottling and the barrel number. The bouquet abounds with tones of caramel and oak, which complement the shades of candied fruit. The taste is rich, with maple-corn sweetness and barely audible sourness. Ideal in its pure form, if you add ice – then one cube is enough.
• Jack Daniel’s Sinatra Century, 50%. Limited edition for the 100th anniversary of Frank Sinatra. The numbered bottles are packaged in gift boxes and come with a live CD of Old Blue Eyes. The bouquet is rich with sweet notes of creme brulee, nutmeg, peanuts, warm ripe watermelon. The taste is velvety and multi-layered, with a touch of vanilla cream.
• Jack Daniel’s 150th Anniversary, 50%. Released for the 150th anniversary of the company. Aroma with notes of honey, cinnamon, hints of sweet fresh fruit. The taste is soft, rather light and rounded, sweetish-tannin with notes of nuts, caramel, pollen. The aftertaste of the drink is pleasant, of medium duration, oak and vanilla are felt at the finish.