Jack Daniel’s is a whiskey and/or distillery that I usually steer clear of, since the early days got me hammered on their no. 7 a few times too many. It was the default option if we could stomach any more beer on Saturdays, but I was able to trade for this sample a while ago and thought to give it a try.

Jack Daniel’s is mostly called a bourbon, but it isn’t one. Its a Tennessee whiskey, meaning that the entire process is the same as in bourbon, but its filtered through a thick layer of charcoal before being put in the barrel. This is known as the Lincoln County Process.

Nose:
Its a very strange smell, with all the characteristics of bourbon in the nose, but the cloying sweetness is gone. A little bit thinner and lighter as expected too, which might have the same filter as a cause. There is still a lot of corn, spices and a hint of tobacco.

Taste:
The same goes for the taste. Same profile, with the thickness removed from it. I get brown sugar, some spices again, but it all is very very smooth and easy drinking.

Finish:
Here things start to get weird. I finally get that typical Jack Daniel’s taste (which I don’t like) but there is more going on. The Jack Daniel’s taste I usually associate with garbage bags and burnt rubber. The good things are cinnamon and candied apple.

At first I was rather enthousiastic about this whiskey, right up until I swallowed a sip and that finish kicked in. While the overall picture is a lot better than JD’s #7, and I kind of liked the nose and the taste, I don’t really want to go back to this…

Jack Daniel’s Silver Select, 50%, about 50 euros at De Whiskykoning.

Nose: 7
Taste: 7
Finish: 2
Overall experience: 4
Price/quality: -1

Total: 19 points