What is whiskey made from?
Put simply, whiskey is made from cereal grains that are processed and distilled to an ABV of at least 40%.
Here at Jack Daniel's however, we know that things are a little more complex than that.
Whiskey has three main components: water, yeast and mash. These three ingredients are unique to each whiskey and are responsible for a large part of what makes a whiskey, from its taste to its history and future.
Water in Whiskey
Water is the first ingredient used in making whiskey. It is used to clean the grains that will be used to make the whiskey, to which hot water is then mixed with the mashed grains to extract the sugars that need to be fermented to create alcohol. Water is also used to distil the alcohol, once the mash has finished fermenting.
Our whiskey is made with spring water from our Cave Spring Hollow, which is filtered through the cave's layers of limestone. Because of this, every drop of water that goes into our whiskey-making is naturally pure.
Yeast in Whiskey
Yeast is responsible for turning the sugars from the mashed grains into alcohol and is a crucial component of the fermentation process. Not only does it create alcohol, but it also imparts a unique flavour to the whiskey.
What is mash?
Mash refers to the mix of grains, water and yeast that is mashed and then fermented to create alcohol. It is one of the most important factors in determining a whiskey's character. Whether making Scotch or Bourbon, mashing is the first step in producing the alcohol in whiskey.
The mash bill
A whiskey's mash bill is the combination of grains that are fermented and distilled in order to create the whiskey. Different grains impart different flavours, for example rye results in a spicy character whereas corn gives whiskey a distinctive tone.
In case you were wondering, Jack Daniel's recipe is made with a delicate mix of corn, barley and rye, which is what creates its unbeatable flavour.
Sour Mash
The sweet mash method just means that no older mash is added to the new mash. Historically, this method has been harder to perfect as it requires high levels of hygiene throughout the production process. Nowadays, it is widely commonplace.
These three elements are the base of any whiskey, but we know how to get creative with the rest of the process.
Our raw whiskey is aged in handcrafted white oak barrels where it gets transformed into the perfectly refined Jack we know and love.
Whether it's apple whiskey you're after or a whiskey with a kick of cinnamon, Jack Daniel's has a whiskey for you.