Gentleman Jack
Early on in my whiskey journey, I got engaged. I wanted to thank the friend who helped me with the ring - I knew he liked whiskey but had zero idea what to get him. Everyone knows Jack Daniel’s, right? Even throughout the general population? And I knew he liked Jack.
So, what to get him…something Jack, but it couldn’t be the “regular” black label. I looked one shelf up and saw Gentleman Jack, and knew that’s what I’d get him.
This is where Jack - in my opinion - starts to mature. The low proof holds it back a bit, but the “double mellowing” - twice through the charcoal filtering process called the Lincoln County Process - does add a bit of complexity to the pour above and beyond the black label. Gentleman Jack makes a great present bottle, is affordable around the $50 range, and, if all else fails, makes a great cocktail!
Gentleman Jack: Specs
Classification: Tennessee Whiskey
Origin: Jack Daniel’s Distillery
Mashbill: 80% Corn, 8% Rye, 12% Malted Barley
Proof: 80 (40% ABV)
Age: NAS
Location: Unknown
Gentleman Jack Price: $49 (MSRP)
Gentleman Jack Review: Tasting Notes
Eye: Bronze colored, thin rim holds with slow, thin legs.
Nose: Caramelized banana, light vanilla, no heat on the nose.
Palate: Banana immediately coats the tongue, but more runt-like rather than fresh banana. No burn at all on the tongue, a slightly oily, thin mouthfeel.
Finish: Long and banana-heavy all the way.
Overall: The typical banana note of Brown Forman and Jack Daniels in particular is there, but without the additional complexity I’m searching for. Kind of ends up being one-note for me. Drinkable, but eh.
Final Rating: 5.2
10 | Insurpassable | Nothing Else Comes Close (Blanton’s Straight from the Barrel)
9 | Incredible | Extraordinary (GTS, Elijah Craig Barrel Proof B518 and B520)
8 | Excellent | Exceptional (12+YO MGP Bourbon, Highland Park Single Barrels)
7 | Great | Well above average (Blanton’s Original, Old Weller Antique, Booker’s)
6 | Very Good | Better than average (Four Roses Small Batch Select, Knob Creek 14+ YO Picks)
5 | Good | Good, solid, ordinary (Elijah Craig Small Batch, Buffalo Trace, Old Grand-Dad Bottled-in-Bond)
4 | Sub-par | Many things I’d rather have (A.D. Laws Four Grain, Compass Box “Oak Cross”)
3 | Bad | Flawed (Iron Smoke Bourbon, Balcones)
2 | Poor | Forced myself to drink it (Buckshee Bourbon and Rye)
1 | Disgusting | Drain pour (Virginia Distilling Co. Cider Cask)
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