Jack Daniel’s Old No. 7
Jack Daniel’s Old No. 7 - an iconic, ubiquitous bottle and the number 1-selling American whiskey in the world (only Johnnie Walker sells more whiskey - or whisky - by volume). It’s the bottle you probably think of first when you think of cheap, available-everywhere bourbon (put a pin in that argument till later); a squared, black-labeled bottle is automatically Jack Daniel’s, even though Evan Williams and Jim Beam have similar-looking packaging.
Jack is so archetypical that it often represents bourbon and all American whiskies around the world.
BUT
Is it a bourbon? Let’s be real…that argument is much, much more deeply explored elsewhere. TL;DR: Jack fits all the requirements of bourbon, but it also goes through the Lincoln County Process, where the distillate is put through charcoal filtering before going into the cask. Jack Daniel’s is pretty adamant that their product is a Tennessee Whiskey, NOT a bourbon, but the actual producer’s official stance on something never changed anyone’s mind, did it?
Fun fact? Remember how I mentioned that Evan Williams has a very similar bottle and label? Well, Jack has a bit of a history with copycats. Sipp’n Corn’s Brian Haara posted a great writeup of the time Jack Daniel’s sued because another brand effectively copied much of their marketing strategy.
Jack Daniel’s old no. 7: Specs
Classification: Tennessee Straight Whiskey
Origin: Jack Daniel’s Distillery
Proof: 80 (40% ABV)
Age: NAS
Location: N/A
Jack Daniel’s Old No. 7 Price: $15
Jack Daniel’s Old No. 7 Review: Tasting Notes
Eye: Amber. Medium rims and medium-to-thin legs.
Nose: Telltale banana note - vanilla cream and cherries round out a relatively light nose.
Palate: Some char upfront with a slight burn - surprising for an 80 proofer. Banana reappears towards the back palate and works its way forward. Moderately filling mouthfeel that coats briefly without being oily. Not much oak anywhere, but there is an unexpected peanut butter note on the back end with some air.
Finish: Slightly bitter from the char, medium-length.
Overall: Probably good to have a bottle of this around the house for the person who says “I love whiskey” but also only drinks it with Coke. It’s not bad - it’s fine, and is exactly what it needs to be to move cases at a $15 price point. For me, I’m sticking with the barrel proof or the rye, but I’ll drink this in a pinch.
Final Rating: 5.4
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)
More Whiskey Reviews
