To stay on the same topic of disliking something first and liking it whenever you try it again, Hans Offringa was slightly offended by my rant about JD’s Tennessee Honey. A whiskey liquer I tasted in a hot motel in Fallon, Nevada. Sitting on a bed, drinking it from a paper cup.

I admit that circumstances were not optimal, but I was pretty sure I did whatever I could to give it a proper shot. Still, he brought me another sample last February and I just HAD to try it again in a more appropriate setting.

Nose:
A lot fuller than I remember and it doesn’t have the scent of wet cardboard. Sharper and spicier too which I find surprising for something this smooth. Honey of course, pretty floral. Wood, cinnamon and bread pudding. Rather fruity after a minute with soft and sweet peaches. It does becomes drier and spicier after a few minutes.

Taste:
The palate is still very doughy, like I found it the first time around. It still has the honey/sugar glaze from old fashioned doughnuts. Far, far better than I remember with loads of crusty icing sugar and quite a bit drier too. In a very good way. Tastes more of booze than of syrup.

I really enjoyed a lot of those the last time I was in the States

Finish:

The finish is more in the Jack Daniel’s style with proper whiskey flavours and some wood too. The honey glaze is omnipresent but I find candied lemon rind as well and powdered coconut.

I have to admit, I like this stuff. A lot. It’s not whiskey but it’s a very nice change of pace and I can see this going very well with desserts. Ice cream, pecan pie, that kind of stuff. I also really enjoy the fact that it still tastes quite a bit like whiskey and didn’t give up much quality to add the honey liquer.

Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Honey, OB, 35%, € 30, available at The Whisky Exchange.