I just met Jack Daniel's

[Zomby Woof]

He's a fine gentleman.

[ipfilter]

1. Evan Williams is a good guy too.

[Capn Sunshine]

6. he's a lot smoother than Jack

:)

[EndersDame]

11. I literally shuddered when I read that

not that I am a snob or anything I just drank way too much of Evan Williams and Jack Daniels a few years ago. I cant drink sugary whiskeys anymore.Oh well just an excuse to go for Tequila now :)

[Zomby Woof]

17. Here's a factoid for you

2 years ago I toured a tequila distillery near Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. Dona Engracia is the best tequila I have ever had, and they unfortunately do not export to the U.S. - although I learned recently that they plan on allowing mail orders soon. Cannot wait.

I learned several new things:

It's only officially tequila if it's made in the state of Jalisco (where Puerto Vallarta is), it's made from 100% blue agave, and is 76 proof (although some are slightly higher).

But what perked my ears up is when I learned that all of Jalisco's tequila distilleries use used Jack Daniel's barrels to age their reposados and anejos. So in every gold or dark authentic Mexican tequila, is a trace amount of Jack. :9

[SanddancerUSA]

2. Are you sure it wasn't Jim Beam?

Hic!

[KamaAina]

3. Being multicultural, I often hang out with Jose Cuervo

:-)

[Beer Snob-50]

4. a fine gentlemen..

with quite the punch.

[Iggo]

5. He lies.

He told me I could beat up them two bikers.

I couldn't.

[MadMaddie]

29. Bwah..haw...haw..

Jack is a liar....:rofl:

[Moondog]

7. Jack's a friend of mine.

Has been, for many years now. And I agree, a fine gentleman.

[Taverner]

8. He's far to fast for me

As Robin Williams said, if alcohol is a crutch - then Jack Daniels is the wheelchair - - all the way down that hill - "wheeeeeeeeee!!!"

[trof]

9. About apostrophes

When I read your subject line I thought "...met Jack Daniel's"...what?
Then I noticed the bottle's label.
Sure enough, "Jack Daniel's old time...etc."
So...the guy's name was Jack Daniel.
Hunh.
Didn't know that.
So next time I order I should ask for a Jack Daniel.
;-)

[Zomby Woof]

10. Yep!

I am strict about apostrophes, and was wondering if anyone would call me out, lol. I made sure the pic had a big label, and I was prepared to defend myself. :-) Since 'Daniel' is a rare last name, but 'Daniels' is common, it does lead to confusion, especially when 'Daniel' is converted into singular possessive form and is 'Daniels' to our ears.

Took a tour of the distillery back in 1982, and am a life loing devotee of their craft. Learned all about Mr. Jack Daniel and the history of the place. It was the first registered distillery in the U.S. back in 1866 (many are older, but went decades without federal registration, and hence risked revenue snafus, etc.). Due to this status, it is on the national registry of U.S Historic Places, and as a result, was the ONLY distillery allowed to remain in operation during Prohibition. During that time, they manufactured lemonade, and sold bottles of the limestone spring water used to make the whiskey.

If you get a chance, try the Single Barrel. 94 proof, and smooth as silk. Serve only neat!

[trof]

19. And you can't buy Jack Daniel in that county.

I toured the place a few years ago.
One of life's supreme ironies that the distillery is in a 'dry' county.
:rofl:

[Zomby Woof]

23. The county residents put it to a vote every so often

They purposely keep it dry these days out of tradition (over 100 years now), and to keep that unusual marketing angle alive. :D It's likely if Jack wasn't made there, they would have went 'wet' years ago. Love it.

[B3Nut]

26. Without a doubt, the best JD expression

The #7 label tastes thin and underproofed by comparison after I taste JDSB. And yes, absolutely nothing but neat! :D

There were other distilleries open during Prohibition, a handful were licensed to produce "medicinal whiskey." It got really lean toward the end, though, a sad commentary one one of our more idiotic national mistakes.

[Zomby Woof]

27. My main complaint about Old No. 7

Is that in the past 20 years, they have watered it down from 90 proof to 86 proof, and then again to 80 proof. The only way to get the 90 proof anymore is when they do commemorative bottles (such as the Gold Medal series). They are faithful with the commemoratives by making sure it has the proof that the whiskey had during the year being highlighted. Now, that's detail! And clever marketing, which they do better than just about any product out there, in any category.

I have no doubt other distilleries were open. I am basing what I said on a vague recollection from 1982, when that may have been all that was known at the time by the tour guides. :-) Most distilleries were shut down though, more out of economic necessity than anything else. They lacked the capital, creativity, or know-how to make the necessary transitions.

More trivia: Jack Daniel's used to be bottled only with a green label, right up until 1911, when Mr. Daniel died. They temporarily started bottling it with a black label as a way of expressing mourning. It sold so well, that when they resumed issuing the green label bottles, they kept the black label going. Years later, they justified the parallel production of 2 labels by weakening the green label to 80 proof, and allowing the black label to continue with the original 90 proof recipe. Of course, now that the black label has been weakened as I said above, the green labels are obsolete, and only issued as commemoratives or on a very limited marketing basis.

Personally, I wish the distillery would bring back the 90 proof recipe. It makes a difference.

[B3Nut]

34. 90 proof would greatly improve it

I find it too thin at 80. I'd really like to try a 100-proof expression of it. JD Single Barrel at 94 is such a hugely different animal...rich flavor with luscious mouthfeel. I and a lot of other whiskey fans are noticing that the banana notes that used to stick out in No. 7 are pretty much absent, I didn't notice any banana in the last pour of it I had. I had a pour of Gentleman Jack awhile back that had the banana-ey esters in abundance...interesting flavor, but didn't really "integrate" with the rest of the flavor profile. No.7 tastes more coherent without that note on the nose and palate. The pours of Single Barrel that I've had didn't have the banana notes either, interestingly.

Ah, whiskey...Bourbon, Tennesee, Irish, Scotch......yes please! :D

[datasuspect]

35. nope

because technically, you're asking for a "jack daniel's old time tennessee whiskey." so the possessive would still apply.

[rateyes]

12. Hell, I've known him for decades.

[Zomby Woof]

13. Same here

(See my previous post).

But when I saw the "Jeff Daniels" thread, I had to indulge in a rare copycat. :-)

[rateyes]

16. Oh. Didn't see that one.

You ought to do more copycat threads, seeing as how rare they are.

[Catshrink]

14. I like Wild Turkey for drinkin' whiskey

and Jim Beam or Early Times for my bourbon balls.

But usually I just stick to my Black Butte Porter. It's on sale this week at Walgreen's -- $11 for 12 beautiful bottles.

[Zomby Woof]

15. I like Wild Turkey 101

And the occasional Maker's Mark or Rebel Yell (a unique all-wheat bourbon).

Jack is my go-to whiskey. Tennessee whiskies like Jack taste better to me because they are filtered over maple charcoal, which gives them a bit of sweetness to balance the bite. Bourbons are not filtered, so they tend to take in too much of the oak from the barrel. Jack is the only distillery where they make their own barrels (white oak), and char them on premises. Most whiskies use used barrels, which is why the oak can be overpowering. I like oak undertones, but subtlety is key.

GREAT deal on the Black Butte. We have tons of Walgreens around here, but they don't sell liquor. However, CVS does, and they have good deals. Need to check BevMo too.

[B3Nut]

25. Bourbon and most Rye whiskey is aged

in new, charred oak barrels. Bourbon *must* be aged in new charred oak barrels in order to be labeled "Bourbon." Incidentally, Early Times, a "Kentucky Whisky", is aged in 30% used cooperage, so it cannot be called bourbon even though it comes from a standard bourbon mashbill (over 51% corn, rye, and malted barley..."wheated" bourbons like Makers or the Wellers substitute wheat for rye as the small or flavor grain.)

Excessive oakiness is usually indicative of excess aging, both time and rickhouse location. The charcoal filtering in a Tennesee whiskey occurs before the white dog goes into the barrel. All whiskies are filtered after dumping, a screen to remove bits of char and in most sub-100 proof whiskies a chill-filtering process is used to remove compounds that make the whiskey "cloud up" when chilled. This has the unfortunate byproduct of removing some of the flavor. But Tennessee whiskey is subject to becoming overoaked also, if they hypothetically let it age too long, which they aren't in the habit of doing.

Wild Turkey 101 is non-chill-filtered, and it shows in the robust flavor that hits the palate right up front. WT101 is one of my favorites, as is Old Weller Antique 107. I usually drink whiskey neat, in a snifter if available. Incidentally, if you like Jack their parent company Brown-Forman has some good bourbon, Woodford Reserve and Old Forester. They also make Early Times, but I find that young, thin, and harsh.

Heck, if you like Makers and Rebel Yell, try W.L. Weller Special Reserve and Old Weller Antique 107...wonderful, sweet-ish bourbons with a touch of fruitiness on the nose. The current bottling of OWA 107 has a prominent apple note to the nose, with notes of apples and caramel on the palate. Delicious, and not as "hot" as one might expect a 107-proofer to be. Tasty!

[Zomby Woof]

30. You're right about bourbon and new barrels

As you said, it has to be that way so that they are properly called bourbons. But Canadian whiskies, or others that are "blended", use old barrels - and even aged tequilas, as I note in another post. I was targeting short-cut "bourbons" like Early Times, because they are well-known and popular. I went back and read what I wrote, and realized I made it sound like ALL bourbons. Poor clarity on my part!

What some people don't realize, is that Tennessee Whiskey is different from bourbon not just because it is made outside of Kentucky, but specifically because of the filtering process. They both use similar sour mash recipes, and new oak barrels, but the process of including charcoal mellowing is different enough to justify its own category. Their "Gentleman Jack" product filters both before AND after the barreling, to smooth out the rough edges.

Wild Turkey 101 has enough character to justify what would otherwise be, for me, too much oakiness. It pulls it off.

Don't care for Early Times either, but have heard good things about Woodford Reserve. Will have to try them and Weller's. Have you tried Knob Creek? I have been curious about that for a long time, but am tight with the funds these days.

Appreciate you sharing your whiskey knowledge! :toast: (we need a shot glass icon)

[B3Nut]

32. +1 on a shot glass, or better a whisky snifter icon!

:D

Knob Creek is another go-to bourbon for me, it's from the same distillate as Jim Beam White, JB Black, Booker's, and Baker's, but they all differ in barreling proof, bottling proof, aging time, and warehouse location. I find JB White too harsh and thin, it tastes a bit young at 4 years. KC is 9 years and 100 proof, and the extra aging and higher proof really showcase how good that basic mashbill can be. It's got a nice mix of sweet and spice, though the finish is slightly dominated by oaky notes (though I don't find it objectionable, just a nice robust character.) Not as much burn at 100 proof as JB White has at 80...the robustness of flavor offsets (and indeed is partly caused by) the higher alcohol level. I love it neat, but it also makes a stunning Manhattan cocktail, especially with Noilly Prat sweet vermouth, a really short dash of Angostura bitters, and a few drops of Fee's orange bitters. Stir gently with ice, then strain into a chilled cocktail glass, dropping a single cherry into the "V" of the glass for garnish. Heavenly! :D

Always a pleasure to bump into another whiskey hound! :)

[GoddessOfGuinness]

18. You met Jack Daniel's whiskey, I presume?

Or was it something else belonging to Mr. Daniel? :evilgrin:

[BikeWriter]

20. WTF are you doing still alive? I figgered you'd have turned belly up,

from jail house wine, or something. Good to see you're still hanging in there.

[LynneSin]

21. I prefer Don Patron

[sasquatch]

22. Nice post, Midlo

:D

[driver8]

24. I hate that son of a bitch. He got me sick on my 18th birthday! n/t

Haven't spoken to him, since...

[MadMaddie]

28. Jack is an ass, we don't get along anymore

He got on my nerves and gave me a two day headache! I gave him a few more chances and then I had to let him go...what a rotten bastard he was!!

I drink fine brew now....:beer:

[baldguy]

31. No good things come from drinking brown liquor.

[datasuspect]

33. he had buttsecks with me

in my brainhole many times.

[elleng]

36. Captain Jack, Live

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HiJT1LWGhxE

better sound: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rSyZraWs07A