Review #447 - Jack Daniel's Gentleman Jack
Tennessee whisky - the main differentiating factor between this category and bourbon is that Tennessee whisky must be filtered through maple charcoal, while bourbon has no such requirement. This charcoal filtering process, called the Lincoln County Process, takes place after distillation, but before the unaged whisky is put into new charred oak barrels for maturation.
For their Gentleman Jack whisky, Jack Daniel's employs a second charcoal filtering process - this time, after the whisky leaves the barrel (post-maturation). The brand's goal is to make this an even more mellow and smooth sipping whisky; in accordance with that ideology, they've also bottled it at the minimum allowed strength: 40% ABV, or 80 proof.
Jack Daniel's Gentleman Jack
USA - Tennessee
Current Locally Available Price: USD 28 (2024)
Age Statement: NAS
Strength: 40% ABV
Tasting Methodology: Reviewed 3 times over 2 years; bottles at 100%, 100%, and 60% fill levels at times of review. Tasted in a Glencairn glass each time, rested 10-15 minutes
Nose: Relatively soft flavors - a mix of fruit and smoke. Mushy bananas or banana pudding, a tiny hint of cherry; maybe it's just the knowledge of the Lincoln County Process usage, but we could swear we get a charcoal note on this nose. A bit of wood smoke, and then in the background, subtle sweetness like molasses or rum.
Palate: The mouthfeel is very thin; tastes a bit like charcoal-infused water at the start. Bitter oak, a bit of acetone, but none of these flavors are particularly potent - it's relatively bland. With time, those mushy/creamy bananas return from the nose, and there's soft baking spice: star anise, vanilla, nutmeg.
Finish: Medium-short in length, wood smoke and vanilla, but again, the flavors aren't very concentrated. A little mixture of sweet and sour, mild oak, and then hints of fruits: unripe green banana and apples. There's a mild chemical aftertaste at times.
Final Note: Our favorite part of this whisky was the nose; overall, though, we can't recommend it, at least based on our palates. This drinks even thinner and more blandly than most 40% ABV whiskies, and while this isn't age stated, we think it's quite young - those acetone notes on the palate and finish were a giveaway.
Because of the lower score, value can't be great, either - there are much better whisky options in the $20 to $30 range.
Our Average Rating: 3.2 / 10
In the current whisky landscape of increasing prices and variable quality, we've added a value rating to our reviews that relates to the score and the available pricing of each whisky. This roughly equates to a 0-10 scale; no reviews so far have exceeded a score of 10, although it is technically possible for the formula to produce a value rating higher than 10 with a high enough score and low enough price.
Value Rating: 4.11
About Us: We're a husband and wife review team living in the Midwest United States. Generally, our reviews and tasting notes will be a compilation of both of our experiences with a whisky over several tasting sessions.
