is Jack Daniels a bourbon?

Answer 1

Technically no, because bourbons are generally made in Kentucky and JD is from Tennessee, so it is called a 'Tennessee whiskey'. It is also made in a slightly different way.

They are not forbidden from calling it a bourbon for this reason however, it is merely tradition not law that says bourbons are from Kentucky.

But it's pretty dubious whether you can really call 'Tennesee whiskey' it's own class of whiskey and not just a bourbon, seeing as there are only two makes of Tennessee whiskey, JD and one other. I'm sure there are slight differences in manufacturing method between different brands of Kentucky bourbon.

JD tastes like, and pretty much is, a bourbon.

Answer 2

The "charcoal mellowing" step with JD is what keeps it from being Bourbon. Contrary to popular belief, what makes Bourbon "Bourbon" is not being made in Kentucky.

From http://www.straightbourbon.com/faq.html which is everything you need to know about Bourbon whiskey:

"1. What is bourbon?


There are strict laws governing just what a Bourbon must be to be labeled as such. For example, at least 51 percent of the grain used in making the whiskey must be corn (most distillers use 65 to 75 percent corn). Bourbon must be aged for a minimum of two years in new, white oak barrels that have been charred. Nothing can be added at bottling to enhance flavor, add sweetness or alter color.




2. What is small batch bourbon?

Small batch bourbons are bottlings from a "batch" of barrels that have been mixed prior to the bottling. Some of the more well known small batch bourbons include: Baker's, Booker's, Basil Hayden's, Knob Creek, Maker's Mark, and Woodford Reserve.



3. What is single barrel bourbon?

Bourbons called single barrel are the bottling of one "single" barrel of bourbon. The single barrel bourbons include: Elijah Craig, 18 years old; Blanton's; Elmer T. Lee, Single Barrel Bourbon; Henry McKenna, Single Barrel; and Evan William's Vintage.


4. Where is bourbon made?

Bourbon can be made anywhere in the United States. All but a couple of brands are made in Kentucky, and Kentucky is the only state allowed to put its name on the bottle. And as Kentucky distillers are quick to point out, Bourbon is not Bourbon unless the label says so.


5. Why is this whiskey called bourbon?

It takes its name from Bourbon County, located in the central Bluegrass region of Kentucky. It was formed from Fayette county in 1785 while still a part of Virginia and named to honor the French Royal Family and was once the major transshipment site for distilled spirits heading down the Ohio and Mississippi rivers to New Orleans. Barrels shipped from its ports were stamped with the county's name, and Bourbon and whiskey soon became synonymous.



6. Is Jack Daniel's a bourbon?

Jack Daniel's, is not considered a bourbon because it is charcoal-mellowed -- slowly, drop by drop, filtered through sugar-maple charcoal -- prior to aging, which many experts say gives it a different character. The process, called the Lincoln County Process, infuses a sweet and sooty character into the distillate as it removes impurities. But up to and after the charcoal filtering, the Jack Daniel's production is much the same as any other Bourbon. Jack Daniel's and George Dickel are two fine Tennessee Whiskeys though neither can be called bourbon"

...and it goes on with much more info!

Answer 3

No it is a tennessee whiskey.
tennisessee a type of American whiskey. This whiskey is generally similar to bourbon, in that it is composed of a mash of 51 - 79 per cent corn, or maize, and is aged in new, charred oak barrels for a minimum of two years.

The difference between Bourbon and Tennessee whiskey is that Tennessee whiskey must undergo the Lincoln County Process. This process requires that the whiskey be filtered through an approximately 10 foot thick layer of maple charcoal. This step is considered to give the whiskey a distinctive flavor and also makes it unusually mild. The process itself is named for Lincoln County, Tennessee, which is where the Jack Daniel's distillery was originally located. In 1871, the Jack Daniel's distillery, and the surrounding area became part of the newly created Moore County.

Presently, there are only two brands of Tennessee whiskey on the market: Jack Daniel's and George Dickel.

Answer 4

A little bit of History
The Story of Jack Daniel's Tennessee Whisky began in 1866 when a 17-year old youth named Jack Daniel established America's oldest registered distillery.
A dependable source of good water, he knew, was essential. So he set up his distillery by the Cave Spring just outside the little town of Lynchburg, which is in the middle part of Tennessee. The Cave Spring's water was cool, clear, and free of iron and other undesirable impurities which can ruin whiskey. It still supplies the water used to make Jack Daniel's Tennessee Whiskey.

Mr Jack used only the finest grains to distil his whiskey. Then he slowly mellowed his whiskey through large vats filled with hard maple charcoal in order to make the whiskey smoother. (And that's the main difference between bourbon and Tennessee whiskey). Finally, the whiskey aged a good long time; it rested in new oak barrels stored in unheated warehouses, where the seasons could do their work and perfect the whiskey's rich colour and unique rare taste.

Therefore it is a Tennessee Whiskey and not a Bourbon!

Answer 5

No. Jack Daniels is not a bourbon. Jack Daniel new whiskey is passed through a charcoal mellowing process before it goes into the barrel. This charcoal mellowing process is the difference between Tennessee whiskey and bourbon whiskey.

Answer 6

Charcoal Mellowing is what makes Jack Daniel's a smooth Tennessee Whiskey intead of a bourbon.

Charcoal-mellowing refers to a process used to make Tennessee whiskey, such as Jack Daniel's. The process involves slowly dripping the newly made whiskey through giant containers hard-packed with 10 feet of sugar maple charcoal. The process takes ten days, and during this time the whiskey absorbs the essence of the charcoal, refining the spirit and giving it a unique flavor and aroma.

"Sour Mash" is not the designation of a special type of whiskey, as most people think. Instead, the name refers to the similarities between making whiskey and making sourdough bread. In both processes, a portion of the previous batch is used to start the next batch in order to promote consistency. Every bourbon and Tennessee whiskey is made using the sour mash process.

As the whiskey ages, the whiskey barrels "breathe." Because of this phenomenon, somewhere between eight to ten percent of the alcohol volume will be lost to evaporation in the first year. Evaporation continues over subsequent years at a rate of four to five percent per barrel. A good whiskey is likely to lose approximately thirty percent of its original volume by the time it is ready for bottling.

Whiskey barrels are assembled from American White Oak, and that's because American White Oak just happens to have the right combination of compounds to create the tastiest whiskey. These compounds, referred to as such because they have really confusing names, are exposed when the insides of the barrels are charred by open flame.

As the whiskey ages inside the barrel, the wood contracts and expands (as everything does) with changes in the surrounding climate. The whiskey is allowed to move in and out of the wood as this happens, and the exposed compounds mix with the whiskey. The mixing gives the whiskey a smoky flavor and an amber tint.

Answer 7

Like bourbon, Jack Daniels is mostly corn and aged in new, charred oak casks. I don't know if there is any legal obstacle to calling it a kind of bourbon.

Unlike bourbons, it is made in Tennessee, and has undergone filtering in maple charcoal according to what is called the "Lincoln county process". This filtering and its unusual place of origin do make it different from bourbon.

Answer 8

Whether or not something is a bourbon, by US law, depends on the percentage of corn whiskey in the mix. To the best of my knowledge, all Jack Daniels blends qualify.

Answer 9

Jack Daniels is a Tennessee Whisky. By law it must be labled "Tennessee Whisky" and not Bourbon or kentucky whisky. The only other tennessee whisky I have seen is George Dickel.

Answer 10

Yep sure is.Many years ago i was i the R.A.F. I was stationed near a American air force base.At the weekend when i wasn't working we would use their NAFFI...BAR. This is where i was introduced to the drink for the very first time. When going to order your drinks,you would ask for bourbon on the rocks,the barman would always ask you which bourbon you would like,as there's many a chose....So yes it is..any help!