FAQs
FAQs
Jack Daniel's is a Tennessee Whiskey brand made in Lynchburg, Tennessee. The Jack Daniel Distillery was registered in 1866, which makes it the oldest registered distillery in the United States. Its best known bottle is Jack Daniel's Old No. 7 Tennessee Whiskey. The range also takes in Gentleman Jack, Single Barrel, Bonded and a family of flavored expressions. Brown-Forman has owned the brand since 1956.
Jack Daniel's is whiskey. To be exact, it is Tennessee Whiskey, a category set out in American law. The rules ask for two things: the whiskey must be made in Tennessee and it must be filtered through sugar maple charcoal before it goes into the barrel. Every straight expression in the range is Tennessee Whiskey, from Old No. 7 to Gentleman Jack and Single Barrel. The flavored expressions, such as Tennessee Honey and Tennessee Apple, blend that whiskey with a liqueur.
Jack Daniel's Old No. 7 Tennessee Whiskey is Tennessee Whiskey, not bourbon. It meets every rule for bourbon: at least 51% corn in the mash, distilled at no more than 160 proof and matured in new charred oak barrels. Then it goes one step further. Before barrelling, every drop is filtered through sugar maple charcoal. That step is called charcoal mellowing. Some know it as the Lincoln County Process. It is why the label says Tennessee Whiskey.
Jack Daniel's is Tennessee Whiskey. Tennessee Whiskey and bourbon are both American whiskeys and they share most of the same rules, including a mash bill of at least 51% corn and maturation in new charred oak barrels. Tennessee Whiskey asks for one thing more: the spirit must be filtered through sugar maple charcoal before it enters the barrel. Jack Daniel's takes that step, so the label says Tennessee Whiskey.
Jack Daniel's is Tennessee Whiskey, a legally defined style of American whiskey. It must be made in Tennessee and filtered through sugar maple charcoal before barrelling. The mash bill is corn, rye and malted barley. It is distilled at the Jack Daniel Distillery and matured in new charred American oak barrels in open-air warehouses in Lynchburg.
Jack Daniel's is Tennessee Whiskey, a legally recognized style of American whiskey separate from bourbon and rye. The spirit must be made in Tennessee and charcoal mellowed before maturation. Old No. 7, Gentleman Jack, Single Barrel and Bonded are all straight Tennessee Whiskey. Tennessee Honey, Tennessee Fire, Tennessee Apple, and Tennessee Blackberry blend that whiskey with a liqueur.
Jack Daniel's Tennessee Whiskey is distilled from a grain mash that includes barley and rye. Both grains contain gluten. Distillation separates the alcohol from the proteins that carry gluten, which is why distilled spirits are widely treated as gluten free. Labelling rules differ by market, so the wording on the bottle in a given country is the wording that applies. Anyone with coeliac disease or a diagnosed gluten intolerance should speak to a medical professional.
Jack Daniel's Old No. 7 Tennessee Whiskey contains no added sugar. The spirit is distilled from grain and matured in oak. The sweetness people taste comes from the corn in the mash and from the barrel, not from sugar in the bottle. The flavored expressions are different. Tennessee Honey, Tennessee Fire and Tennessee Apple blend Tennessee Whiskey with a liqueur. Those liqueurs do contain sugar.
A 30ml (1 oz) serve of Jack Daniel's Old No. 7 Tennessee Whiskey at 40% ABV contains approximately 65 calories. A 60ml (2 oz) serve contains approximately 130 calories. Nearly all of that comes from the alcohol itself, because Old No. 7 contains no added sugar and no carbohydrate. The flavored expressions carry more calories, because the liqueur they are blended with contains sugar.
Jack Daniel's Tennessee Whiskey is made from three things: grain, water and yeast. The mash bill is 80% corn, 12% malted barley and 8% rye. The water is drawn from Cave Spring Hollow, a limestone spring on the distillery site that is naturally free of iron. The same yeast strain has been kept at the distillery for decades. Nothing is added after distillation except water to bring the strength down.
Jack Daniel's Tennessee Whiskey is distilled from a mash containing barley and rye, which are grains that contain gluten. Distillation separates the alcohol from the proteins that carry gluten, which is why distilled spirits are generally treated as gluten free. Labelling requirements differ between markets, so the statement on the bottle in a given country is the one that applies. Anyone with coeliac disease should seek medical advice.
Jack Daniel's Old No. 7 Tennessee Whiskey contains no added sugar and no carbohydrate. The sweet notes come from the corn in the mash bill and from the charred oak barrel, not from sugar in the bottle. The flavored expressions are different. Tennessee Honey, Tennessee Fire, Tennessee Apple, and Tennessee Blackberry blend Tennessee Whiskey with a liqueur that does contain sugar.
Jack Daniel's Old No. 7 Tennessee Whiskey contains no carbohydrates. Distillation leaves the sugars and starches from the grain mash behind, so the finished spirit is carbohydrate free. Nothing is added afterwards except water to bring the strength down. The flavored expressions do contain carbohydrates, because Tennessee Honey, Tennessee Fire, Tennessee Apple, and Tennessee Blackberry are blended with a liqueur.
Whiskey is distilled from grains that contain gluten, including barley, wheat and rye. Distillation separates the alcohol from the proteins that carry gluten, which is why distilled spirits are widely treated as gluten free. Labeling rules differ between markets. Some products also have flavorings added after distillation. Anyone with coeliac disease or a diagnosed gluten intolerance should check the label and speak to a medical professional.
Bourbon is distilled from a grain mash of corn plus rye, wheat or malted barley. The rye, wheat and barley contain gluten, but distillation removes the proteins that carry it, so the finished spirit is generally treated as gluten free. Labeling requirements vary by market. Flavored products may also have ingredients added after distillation. Anyone with coeliac disease should check the label and take medical advice.
Whiskey is made from gluten-containing grains such as barley, wheat and rye, but distillation removes the proteins that carry gluten, so the finished spirit is generally treated as gluten free. Products with flavorings added after distillation may be different. Labelling rules vary by market. Anyone with coeliac disease or a diagnosed intolerance should check the label and take medical advice.
A 30ml (1 oz) serve of whiskey at 40% ABV contains approximately 65 calories. A 60ml (2 oz) US fluid ounce serve contains approximately 130 calories. Nearly all of that comes from the alcohol. Unflavored whiskey contains no sugar and no carbohydrate. Stronger whiskeys carry more calories per serve. Flavored whiskeys carry more again, because of the sugar in the liqueur they are blended with.
Unflavored whiskey contains no sugar. The sweetness people taste comes from the grain and from the charred oak barrel, not from sugar in the bottle. Some markets permit small amounts of coloring in some whiskeys. Flavored whiskey liqueurs do contain added sugar. Where sugar content matters, the product label and the rules of that market are the reliable source.
Jack Daniel's is owned by Brown-Forman Corporation, an American spirits company based in Louisville, Kentucky. Brown-Forman bought the Jack Daniel Distillery in 1956. The distillery itself has never moved. It has worked in Lynchburg, Tennessee since 1866 and every drop is still made there. Brown-Forman is publicly listed. Its other brands include Woodford Reserve, Old Forester, Herradura and el Jimador.
The Jack Daniel Distillery was registered with the United States government in 1866, which made it the first registered distillery in the country. Jasper Newton Daniel, known to everyone as Jack, learned to distil from Nathan Nearest Green, an enslaved man who became the distillery's first master distiller. Jack Daniel's has been made in Lynchburg, Tennessee ever since.
Jasper Newton Daniel died in 1911 of blood poisoning. The story usually told is that he kicked his safe one morning after it would not open, broke his toe and the wound turned septic. Historians differ on how closely that story matches the record. Jack never married and had no children, so he left the distillery to his nephew, Lem Motlow.
Jack Daniel's was founded by Jasper Newton Daniel, known as Jack, in Lynchburg, Tennessee. He learned to distil from Nathan Nearest Green, an enslaved man who became the first master distiller of the Jack Daniel Distillery and the first known African American master distiller in the United States. The distillery was registered in 1866. Brown-Forman has owned the brand since 1956.
Jack Daniel's Old No. 7 Tennessee Whiskey is bottled at 40% ABV, which is 80 proof in the United States. Strength varies across the range. Gentleman Jack is also 40% ABV. Single Barrel Select is 47% ABV, which is 94 proof. Jack Daniel's Bonded is 50% ABV, exactly 100 proof, as bottled-in-bond rules require. The flavored expressions, including Tennessee Honey and Tennessee Fire, are bottled at 35% ABV.
Jack Daniel's Old No. 7 Tennessee Whiskey carries no age statement. The whiskey does not follow a calendar. Each barrel rests in an open-air warehouse in Lynchburg and is tasted until it is ready, which usually takes four to seven years. Tennessee's wide temperature swings push the whiskey in and out of the wood, so barrels there mature faster than the calendar suggests.
Jack Daniel's Old No. 7 Tennessee Whiskey is 40% alcohol by volume, which is 80 proof in the United States. A 25ml serve contains one UK alcohol unit. Strength varies across the range. Single Barrel Select is 45% ABV. Jack Daniel's Bonded is 50% ABV. The flavored expressions, including Tennessee Honey and Tennessee Fire, are 35% ABV.
Jack Daniel's Old No. 7 Tennessee Whiskey leads with an aroma of dried fruits, oak, and a delicate spiciness. Notes of dried fruit, caramel, and vanilla, with a light banana note from the yeast follow. The finish is dry and lingering. Charcoal mellowing strips out the harsher compounds before the whiskey ever meets the barrel, which is why it tastes rounder and less sharp than many American whiskeys at the same strength.
Jack Daniel's Old No. 7 Tennessee Whiskey mixes well with cola, ginger ale, lemonade and soda water. Its caramel and vanilla stand up to sweet mixers without getting lost. In cocktails it is the base of the Lynchburg Lemonade, the Whiskey Sour, the Old Fashioned and the Tennessee Mule. Tennessee Honey suits lemonade and ginger ale. Tennessee Apple works with soda water over ice.
Jack Daniel's Old No. 7 Tennessee Whiskey pairs well with grilled and smoked food. Char on the meat meets char from the barrel, so barbecue, burgers, ribs and smoked brisket all work. On the sweet side it sits happily with dark chocolate, pecan pie and salted caramel. As a mixer it takes cola, ginger ale and lemonade without losing its character.
A Whiskey Sour is made with 50ml whiskey, 25ml fresh lemon juice and 15ml sugar syrup, shaken hard with ice and strained into a chilled glass. For the classic foam, add a little egg white and shake once without ice first. Jack Daniel's Old No. 7 Tennessee Whiskey suits the serve, because its caramel sweetness balances the lemon.
Whiskey can be drank neat, over ice, with a splash of water or in a cocktail. None of those is wrong. Neat shows the whiskey as it was bottled. A few drops of water open up the aroma. Ice cools the drink and softens it as it melts, which suits stronger whiskeys. Start with a small pour. Smell before tasting and let it sit on the tongue. Please drink responsibly.
Bourbon can be drank neat, on the rocks, with a little water or in a cocktail. Neat in a tulip-shaped glass concentrates the aroma. A few drops of water lower the strength and release more caramel and vanilla. Ice mutes some aroma but suits higher-proof bottles. The classic bourbon cocktails are the Old Fashioned, the Whiskey Sour and the Manhattan. Please drink responsibly.
Whiskey tastes of the grain it was made from and the wood it matured in. Corn-led whiskeys such as bourbon and Tennessee Whiskey lead with caramel, vanilla and toasted oak. Rye is drier and peppery. Scotch runs from honey and orchard fruit to heavy peat smoke. Higher strength brings more heat. Nearly every whiskey carries some sweetness from the barrel.
Bourbon leads with caramel, vanilla and toasted oak. The sweetness comes from the corn in the mash and from the new charred barrel it matures in. Rye in the mash bill adds pepper and spice. Wheat makes it softer and rounder. Older bourbons carry more oak, tannin and dried fruit. Higher-proof bottlings taste more concentrated rather than simply hotter.
Neat means whiskey served on its own at room temperature, with no ice, water or mixer. It is poured straight from the bottle into the glass. Neat is the reference point for tasting, because it shows the whiskey exactly as it was bottled. Adding a few drops of water is not the same serve. That is whiskey with water. It lowers the strength a touch. Please drink responsibly.
Several Jack Daniel's cookbooks are available through the Lynchburg Hardware and General Store, which accepts domestic orders only at 1-888-221-JACK. You can also visit the Cocktails section of our web site to find the perfect drink recipe for any occasion.
Whiskey mixes well with cola, ginger ale, soda water, lemonade and apple juice. Sweeter mixers suit corn-led whiskeys such as bourbon and Tennessee Whiskey, where the caramel and vanilla stand up to the sugar. Ginger ale and soda water suit spicier rye. For cocktails, whiskey is the base of the Old Fashioned, the Whiskey Sour, the Manhattan and the Highball.
Jack Daniel's Black Label Tennessee Whiskey has no carbohydrates (sugar or starch), gluten, fats, or cholesterol, as these are removed in the distilling process. One fluid ounce of Jack Daniel's contains approximately 65 calories.
Whiskey stones are small cubes of soapstone, granite or stainless steel. They are frozen and dropped into a glass to chill whiskey without watering it down. They cool a drink less than ice does and they never melt, so the whiskey keeps its full strength and flavor. Drinkers who want the softening that ice brings, especially with stronger whiskeys, usually stay with ice.
Bourbon mixes well with cola, ginger ale, soda water and lemonade. Its caramel and vanilla hold up against sweet mixers. Ginger ale is the classic partner, because the spice cuts through the sweetness. For cocktails, bourbon is the base of the Old Fashioned, the Whiskey Sour, the Manhattan and the Mint Julep. Apple juice and iced tea also work in longer serves. Please drink responsibly.
Jack Daniel's is owned by Brown-Forman Corporation. Two classes of Brown-Forman stock (Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock) are listed on the New York Stock Exchange. Shareholders reside in all 50 states and 22 countries. Check with your stockbroker for additional details.
Jack Daniel's is sold through retailers and bars, so prices are set by those retailers rather than by the distillery. Price varies by market, bottle size and local duty. Within the range, price generally follows the work in the liquid. Old No. 7 sits at the core. Gentleman Jack is charcoal mellowed a second time. Single Barrel, Bonded and the limited editions sit above both.
A fifth is an American bottle size equal to 750ml. It is the standard bottle for Jack Daniel's in the United States. The retail price is set by the retailer rather than the distillery, so it varies by state, tax and outlet. Within the range, Old No. 7 sits at the core price point. Gentleman Jack, Single Barrel and Bonded sit above it.
Jack Daniel's runs a personal barrel program. A buyer selects an entire barrel of Single Barrel whiskey, which is then bottled under that buyer's name. A full barrel yields roughly 240 bottles. The exact number varies, because every barrel loses a different share to evaporation while it matures. Pricing and availability run through the program and the buyer's local distributor.
Unopened, Jack Daniel's Tennessee Whiskey does not go bad. A distilled spirit at 40% ABV is stable and it stops maturing the moment it leaves the barrel, so a sealed bottle keeps indefinitely. Store it upright, out of direct sunlight and away from heat. Once opened, air slowly changes the flavour. A bottle kept sealed between pours and finished within a year or two will taste as intended.
Jack Daniel's Tennessee Whiskey does not expire. At 40% ABV the spirit is stable and cannot spoil. Unlike wine, it stops maturing the moment it leaves the barrel, so an unopened bottle will neither improve nor fade with age. Once opened, contact with air slowly softens the aroma and flavor. Keep the bottle sealed, upright and out of sunlight to slow that down.
Whiskey does not go bad. At around 40% ABV the spirit is stable and cannot support bacteria. It also stops maturing the moment it leaves the barrel, so an unopened bottle will not change with age. Once opened, air slowly flattens the aroma and softens the flavor. Store bottles upright, away from heat and sunlight. Finish an opened bottle within a year or two.
Jack Daniel's is made in Lynchburg, Moore County, Tennessee, at the Jack Daniel Distillery. Every drop of Jack Daniel's Tennessee Whiskey sold anywhere in the world starts on that one site. The water comes from Cave Spring Hollow, a limestone spring on the property that runs free of iron at a steady temperature. The distillery is open to visitors and runs guided tours.
Bourbon is an American whiskey made from a mash of at least 51% corn, distilled to no more than 160 proof and matured in new charred oak barrels entered at no more than 125 proof. It can be made anywhere in the United States, not only in Kentucky. Nothing may be added at bottling except water. Jack Daniel's meets every one of those rules but takes an extra charcoal mellowing step, so it is labeled Tennessee Whiskey.
Bourbon is a type of whiskey. Whiskey is the broad family name for any spirit distilled from fermented grain and matured in wood. Bourbon is one American style within it, defined by a mash bill of at least 51% corn and maturation in new charred oak. Scotch, Irish whiskey, rye and Tennessee Whiskey belong to the same family, each with its own rules..
Bourbon is a type of whiskey, so the difference is between a family and one of its styles. Whiskey covers any spirit distilled from grain and matured in wood. Bourbon adds firm rules: made in the United States, at least 51% corn, matured in new charred oak and nothing added but water. A whiskey that breaks any of those rules is still whiskey. It just cannot be called bourbon.
Bourbon is not the same as whiskey. It is one kind of whiskey. Whiskey is the parent category for spirits distilled from fermented grain and matured in wood. Bourbon is the American style with a corn-led mash bill of at least 51% and maturation in new charred oak. Scotch, Irish, rye and Tennessee Whiskey are all whiskey too. None of them are bourbon.
Whiskey is the category. Bourbon is a style within it. All bourbon is whiskey, but not all whiskey is bourbon. To be called bourbon, a whiskey must be made in the United States from a mash of at least 51% corn and matured in new charred oak barrels, with nothing added but water. Scotch, Irish whiskey and Tennessee Whiskey sit outside those rules.
Whiskey is a spirit distilled from fermented grain and matured in wooden casks. The grain, the still, the cask and the years in wood together give each style its character. The main styles are bourbon and Tennessee Whiskey from the United States, Scotch from Scotland, Irish whiskey from Ireland and rye, which is made in both the United States and Canada.
Rye whiskey is whiskey made from a mash of at least 51% rye grain. Rye gives a drier, spicier and more peppery character than corn-led whiskeys such as bourbon or Tennessee Whiskey. American rye must be matured in new charred oak barrels. Canadian whisky is often called rye out of habit, even when the mash bill holds little actual rye, which causes plenty of confusion.
Four rules make a whiskey bourbon. It must be made in the United States. The mash bill must be at least 51% corn. It must be matured in new charred oak barrels. And nothing may be added at bottling except water. There is no minimum age for bourbon in general, though straight bourbon must spend at least two years in the barrel.
Scotch is whisky, spelled without the "e". It is whisky made in Scotland from malted barley and other cereals, matured in oak casks in Scotland for at least three years. Unlike bourbon, Scotch usually matures in casks that held another spirit or wine first, which is one reason it tastes different. Single malt comes from one distillery. Blended Scotch combines several.
Bourbon does not have to be made in Kentucky. It can be made anywhere in the United States. Distilleries in Texas, New York, Colorado and other states all produce it. Kentucky earned its link with bourbon through history, limestone water and the sheer number of large distilleries there. Only a bottle labeled Kentucky Straight Bourbon must be made and matured in Kentucky.
Single malt whisky is made from 100% malted barley at one distillery. Single refers to the one distillery, not to a single cask or batch. Most single malt is Scotch, though Ireland, Japan, England and others make it too. Blended whisky combines malt whisky with grain whisky, often from several distilleries.
Scotch is whisky made in Scotland, so the difference is one of origin and rules rather than category. Scotch must be distilled and matured in Scotland, in oak casks, for at least three years. It is usually built on malted barley and matured in casks that held something else first. American whiskeys such as bourbon and Tennessee Whiskey use corn-led mashes and new charred oak. The spelling differs too: whisky in Scotland, whiskey in the United States and Ireland.
Whiskey is made from three ingredients: grain, water and yeast. The grain mix is called the mash bill and it sets the base flavor. Corn brings sweetness. Rye brings spice. Wheat brings softness. Malted barley supplies the enzymes that turn starch into sugar for the yeast to ferment. The spirit is then distilled and matured in oak, which gives it color and much of its final flavor.
Bourbon is made from grain, water and yeast. The mash must be at least 51% corn. The rest is usually rye, wheat or malted barley. Rye makes a drier, spicier bourbon. Wheat makes a softer one. After fermentation and distillation the spirit goes into new charred oak barrels, which give it its color and a large share of its caramel and vanilla flavor.
Whiskey is made in five stages. Grain is milled and cooked with water to make a mash. Yeast is added to ferment the sugars into alcohol, which produces a liquid rather like beer. That liquid is distilled to concentrate the alcohol and strip out unwanted compounds. The spirit then matures in oak barrels, which give it color and flavor. Finally it is filtered, brought down with water and bottled.
Whiskey is made from cereal grain, water and yeast. The grain mix is called the mash bill and it drives the base flavour. Corn gives sweetness, rye gives spice and wheat gives softness. Malted barley brings the enzymes that turn starch into sugar. Water is used in the mash and again at bottling to set the strength. Oak barrels then supply the color and much of the flavor.
Whiskey is made by milling grain, cooking it with water to make a mash, fermenting that mash with yeast, distilling the liquid and maturing the spirit in oak barrels. Home distilling is illegal without a license in the United Kingdom, the United States and most other countries. The legal way to see whiskey being made is a distillery tour. NOTICE: Distilling spirits at home for personal consumption is illegal under federal law.
Bourbon is made by milling grain into a mash of at least 51% corn, cooking it with water, fermenting it with yeast and distilling it to no more than 160 proof. The spirit enters new charred oak barrels at no more than 125 proof and matures there, taking its color and flavor from the wood. It is bottled at 40% ABV or above, with nothing added but water. NOTICE: Distilling spirits at home for personal consumption is illegal under federal law.
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