As a former Jack Daniel's snob, I would offer this: Jack Daniel's and George Dickel are bourbons, at least according to govt regulations. They are made with 51% (or more) corn and aged in new, charred white oak casks for more than 2 years. It doesn't have to come from Kentucky to be bourbon. As much as JD and GD want to say that Tennessee Whiskey not bourbon, it is really just semantics. Once I got over my snobbery and discovered that JD is a bourbon, because it is made like bourbon, I started tasting -- really tasting -- the competition. There are so many great american bourbons and whiskeys out there, I kick myself for all the years I would not drink anything else (probably about 35 years of stupidity on my part). Try George Dickle (especially No. 12) in a taste test against JD Black. Black label has gone down to 80 proof and the Dickel is still at 90. It's cheaper and tastes better. Or try the Dickel Small Batch at $40. Rated about 92 to 93. Or cross the border and have some the new Maker's 46 (yummy).
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