What Exactly is Tennesee Whisky ?

[Mike B]

What exactly is Tennesee whisky? Obviously made in Tennesee right? Is it a bourbon? And why is it distinct from other whiskeys of the same type?

[bkblankenship]

Originally Posted by Mike Ballash

What exactly is Tennesee whisky? Obviously made in Tennesee right? Is it a bourbon? And why is it distinct from other whiskeys of the same type?

Officially recognized and regulated by the U. S. tax authorities since 1941, the process begins the same as bourbon but it is the final process that distinguishes Tennessee whiskey from bourbon. Tennessee whiskey or Tennessee sour mash is distinguished from bourbon as it is produced using the LINCOLN COUNTY PROCESS. The LINCOLN COUNTY PROCESS is a special filtration process whereby the fresh whiskey is filtered through 10 feet of maple charcoal. This process is also known as CHARCOAL MELLOWING or LEACHING. This filtration process makes the whiskey unusally mild. Two of the best examples of Tennessee sour mash are JACK DANIELS and GEORGE DICKEL.

I prefer rye to Tennessee whiskey. Don't ask me why.

I think there's an enormous hype premium you pay for, say, Jack Daniel's though. Old Overholt, for example, is aged the same six years as JD. Filtering through charcoal shouldn't add $15 a bottle to the cost.

But this is only my opinion. Tennessee whiskey is great stuff, just not worth the extra cost to me.

Try the George Dickle #12 it is much better than anything that Jack makes and that includes the single barrel. Smoother, no overwhelming vanilla or charcoal, a slight smokey taste coupled with earthly oak notes and a subtle sweetness,

I was a big JD Gentlman Jack fan until I ran inot a bottle of Dickle #12. Best sippin whiskey I've found in my 70 years on this earth. Stuff is hard to find though. Only one store in this town (100,000 plus a couple) has it. Costs less tastes great!!!