You’ve seen the commercials about barrel aged whiskey from Tennessee, and noticed the interesting almost cola and caramel color in a shot glass. If you are wondering what Jack Daniels tastes like before you try it, or are trying to find a way to describe the taste, we can help with that.
Like many hard liquors, Jack Daniels has a unique taste. There are also a few different kinds of Jack Daniels, though we will primarily be talking about the well known whiskey.
Jack Daniels offers a complex flavor, especially to people who drink harder alcohol on a regular basis and can detect differences. A shot or mixture of Jack Daniels should taste sweet, with a bit of cinnamon and orange.
What’s in Jack Daniels that gives it the unique taste?
Jack Daniels is made mostly of 80% corn, 12% malted barley, and 8% rye. In a unique process to the whiskey world, Jack Daniels is distilled in copper tins and dripped through 10 feet of sugar maple charcoal filters.
First, the actual combination of ingredients is a secret. The rye in Jack Daniels intends to give a peppery, spicy taste. The inclusion of malted barley adds a smooth taste to Jack Daniels, which is especially noticeable if you swish it a bit, then swallow. Some whiskeys go down rough. Jack does not.
To give you a few more examples of what you’ll notice in a shot glass of Jack Daniels, many have commented that Jack tastes of brown sugar, wood, and some dark chocolate. Jack Daniels does provide a very unique taste for those who are seeking to understand what their mouth palette can feel. Much like wine connoisseurs, everyone can taste a little something different in Jack Daniels.
Of course, Jack Daniels also has the normal “bite” of alcohol, which you’ll feel more of when first take a sip.
What does Jack Daniels smell like?
Much of our drinking and tasting experience begins with the nose. Jack Daniels has a strong smell both out of the bottle and out of a glass. Consistent to its taste, Jack Daniels smells like a mix of wood, brown sugar, and cinnamon. Among stronger notes is grain alcohol.
Note that with mixed drinks that include Jack, you’ll be able to tell right away the strong of the pour based on how much alcohol and grain you can notice.
What is the texture of Jack Daniels?
One of the goals of Jack Daniels is to create a smooth whiskey. We mentioned before that Jack Daniels is filtered through sugar maple charcoal. Being slowly fed through charcoal gives Jack Daniels the distinct, smooth taste by removing impurities. Charcoal is a great absorber!
When taking a shot or a drink, you’ll notice that your tongue will first detect either the alcohol burn or the use of spices as though they are floating. When swallowed, it’ll also go down smooth.
How do I use Jack Daniels?
Jack Daniels is sometimes served on its own in a shot glass, which is just a couple of inches tall.
People who are looking for a drink to take the edge off sometimes prefer a different variety, and add a mixer to Jack Daniels. In the case of Jack Daniels and most other hard liquors, they often add something either sweet or citrusy.
Whether you are at a restaurant or looking up recipes for Jack Daniels use at home, here are some popular ones:
- Jack & Coke is a very well known mix, and it’s cheap along with being easy to find. Coke adds more of a caramel and sweet flavor to Jack. Coke is also a well known taste and a welcome addition to a shot or two of Jack for drinkers who don’t want to drink straight jack.
- Jack & Ginger ale. Ginger adds a nice contrast to Jack without being too sweet or overwhelming. Ginger also also adds less sugar than Coke.
- Jack and lemon soda: Citrus can certainly take some of the initial taste of alcohol away and leave a sweet, familiar flavor.
- Jack and lemonade: for a summertime favorite on a hot day, lemonade adds more sweet and a bit of sour too.
Is Jack Daniels good or bad for you?
We’ll do this comparatively to other kinds of alcohol.
From a weight and calories perspective, straight jack or Jack with less sugary soda is better for you than a bottle or two of beer. Whiskey has little sugar and few calories.
Jack Daniels and other whiskeys also have the potential to be heart healthy when not overused.
Alcohol and Jack Daniels are also believed to help fight cancer by keeping carcinogens from contacting your body.
Finally, if you have diet or genetic related problems like diabetes, Jack Daniels is a more acceptable drink. It has fewer carbs and sugar than beer.
Are there other varieties of Jack Daniels?
If you want something sweeter, try Jack Daniels Tennessee Honey. Tennessee Honey uses real Tennessee honey along with vanilla to create a sweet, smooth flavor. This flavor combination is more acceptable straight to some enjoyers of Whiskey while Jack Daniels drinkers are more likely to use a combination or chaser.
There are actually many varieties of Jack Daniels, with varying levels of smoothness often based on the aging length and process. Tennessee Rye adds more spices to the mix.
Conclusion
Jack Daniels has a unique flavor, even for a whiskey. With notes of wood, grain, cinnamon, and dark chocolate there is really something for everyone. The filtration process used by Jack Daniels also gives it a smooth flavor that will slide right down, but be pleasant held in the mouth.
Try a couple of varieties of Jack and add your own mixers to create some new tastes. You can also try sugar free sodas in your Jack if you want sweetness without the added sugar.
