Tennessee Whiskey
The subject of eternal debate among whiskey enthusiasts, Tennessee whiskey is technically a type of bourbon. It must be produced to the same specifications as bourbon: at least 51% corn, aged in new, charred oak containers, and bottled at a minimum of 80 proof. Unsurprisingly, it must also be produced in the state of Tennessee. The most unique requirement, however, is that it must use the Lincoln County Process in its production. While most whiskey is filtered through activated charcoal before bottling, the Lincoln County Process is a more elaborate filtration procedure that uses sugar maple charcoal before it goes into the barrel. The result is a “mellowing” of the whiskey, as well as unique maple and smoke notes in many expressions. The most famous Tennessee whiskey, and also the best-selling American whiskey in the world, is Jack Daniel’s. There are only a few other Tennessee whiskey producers today, partly owing to Jack Daniel’s dominance of the category and also because Tennessee, until the 2010s, heavily restricted the production of alcohol in the state.
Top Tennessee Whiskey Posts:
A Visit to Jack Daniel’s Distillery
A Visit to Nelson’s Green Brier Distillery
George Dickel Tennessee Whiskies – Cascade Hollow, No. 8, and No. 12
I wasn’t sure I saw this one coming: On the heels of Jack Daniel’s first two age-stated releases, JD 10 Years Old and JD 12 Years Old, the Lynchburg, Tennessee-based distillery has added a third sibling, Jack Daniel’s 14 Years Old. Intriguingly, it’s the first 14-year-old expression of Jack Daniel’s produced since Jack Daniel himself…
Two years ago Jack Daniel’s released its first age-statemented whiskey in a century — Jack Daniel’s 10 Years Old — and now it’s back with a second batch, plus a friend. Today we check out JD 10 Batch 2 as well as the first batch of an older sibling, Jack Daniel’s 12 Years Old. Both…
Jack Daniel’s has been making headlines for its latest bottling, the first whiskey with a 10 year old age statement in more than 100 years. (You can see an old bottling of JD at 10 years old in the photo above.) Most JD carries no age statement at all, of course, so it’s unusual to…
When settlers pushed into central Tennessee during the late 18th century, they required a powerhouse capable of conquering rocky soil and hauling heavy timber across punishing ridges. The mule, a cross between a male donkey and a female horse, became the backbone of this expansion. These animals offered more strength per pound than horses, remained…
For 2025, Jack Daniel’s added two very different experimental whiskeys to its impressive Distillery Series: The first was a well-aged bottling of its classic Tennessee whiskey recipe, but with a rather important and unprecedented distinction. Jack begins each distilling season with a limited run of sweet mash to produce the setback needed for their standard…
Jack Daniel and Bruce McLaren may have come from humble beginnings, but both built legacies that would become global powerhouses — one in whiskey, the other in Formula 1 racing. Bruce McLaren began in a small family garage in New Zealand, transforming a childhood passion for speed into a Formula 1 dynasty, with 22 world…
Hot on the heels of its new Bottled in Bond selection, Jack Daniel’s is out with another release. This one is going to be far more prized than the Bonded expression (which is now a permanent offering), with just 200 barrels’ worth of this “Heritage Barrel” offering on the market. JD explains what that is:…
As Old Dominick Distillery in Memphis comes into its own, its house-distilled whiskey has steadily improved, evolving in character and complexity as its age statements climb. While the Memphis distillery makes Tennessee whiskey, Old Dominick also distills bourbon made with a high-rye mashbill of 52% corn, 44% rye, and 4% malted barley. On August 1,…
Millions flock to Gatlinburg, Tennessee, drawn by the majestic beauty of the Smoky Mountains and, for many, the enticing world of moonshine distilleries. Finding a pour is easy in this bustling town, with Sugarlands Distilling taking center stage on “the strip” as a prime destination. Most who step inside are content with their diverse moonshine…
Bib & Tucker has a decent reputation in the bourbon world — particularly its older expressions — and today the outfit launches its oldest expression yet, a 15 year old bourbon it calls The Golden Spike. (Why The Golden Spike? It honors the transcontinental railroad, began in 1845, and the 17.6 karat gold spike used…