No, Jack Daniel's is not a bourbon. It's a Tennessee whiskey. The main differences between bourbon and Tennessee whiskey lie in the production process:
- Filtering: Tennessee whiskey, like Jack Daniel's, is filtered through sugar maple charcoal before aging, which gives it a distinct flavor profile.
- Geographic location: Bourbon can be made anywhere in the United States, while Tennessee whiskey must be made in Tennessee.
While Jack Daniel's meets many of the requirements to be considered a bourbon (it's made from at least 51% corn mash, aged in new charred oak barrels, and distilled to no more than 160 proof), the additional filtering step and geographic requirement set it apart as a Tennessee whiskey.
No, Jack Daniel’s is not officially classified as a bourbon—it’s labeled as a Tennessee whiskey. However, this is a bit nuanced, because Jack Daniel’s does meet all the legal requirements to be considered a bourbon under U.S. law. Here's why it's different:
Why Jack Daniel’s Could Be Bourbon: To legally be bourbon, a whiskey must:
Be made in the U.S.
Contain at least 51% corn
Be distilled to no more than 160 proof
Be aged in new, charred oak barrels
Enter the barrel at no more than 125 proof
Be bottled at a minimum of 80 proof
Jack Daniel’s meets all of these criteria.
Why Jack Daniel’s Isn’t Called Bourbon: Jack Daniel’s undergoes an extra step called the Lincoln County Process, where the whiskey is:
Filtered through sugar maple charcoal before aging.
This charcoal mellowing process gives Jack Daniel’s a smoother, slightly sweeter profile and is a defining characteristic of Tennessee whiskey. Because of this, the brand markets it as such—and not as bourbon—even though it legally could be.
Final Verdict: Technically bourbon? Yes. Officially and culturally? No—Jack Daniel’s is Tennessee whiskey.
No, Jack Daniel's is not a bourbon. It's a Tennessee whiskey. The main differences between bourbon and Tennessee whiskey lie in the production process:
ReplyDelete- Filtering: Tennessee whiskey, like Jack Daniel's, is filtered through sugar maple charcoal before aging, which gives it a distinct flavor profile.
- Geographic location: Bourbon can be made anywhere in the United States, while Tennessee whiskey must be made in Tennessee.
While Jack Daniel's meets many of the requirements to be considered a bourbon (it's made from at least 51% corn mash, aged in new charred oak barrels, and distilled to no more than 160 proof), the additional filtering step and geographic requirement set it apart as a Tennessee whiskey.
No, Jack Daniel’s is not officially classified as a bourbon—it’s labeled as a Tennessee whiskey. However, this is a bit nuanced, because Jack Daniel’s does meet all the legal requirements to be considered a bourbon under U.S. law. Here's why it's different:
ReplyDeleteWhy Jack Daniel’s Could Be Bourbon:
To legally be bourbon, a whiskey must:
Be made in the U.S.
Contain at least 51% corn
Be distilled to no more than 160 proof
Be aged in new, charred oak barrels
Enter the barrel at no more than 125 proof
Be bottled at a minimum of 80 proof
Jack Daniel’s meets all of these criteria.
Why Jack Daniel’s Isn’t Called Bourbon:
Jack Daniel’s undergoes an extra step called the Lincoln County Process, where the whiskey is:
Filtered through sugar maple charcoal before aging.
This charcoal mellowing process gives Jack Daniel’s a smoother, slightly sweeter profile and is a defining characteristic of Tennessee whiskey. Because of this, the brand markets it as such—and not as bourbon—even though it legally could be.
Final Verdict:
Technically bourbon? Yes.
Officially and culturally? No—Jack Daniel’s is Tennessee whiskey.