Author: whiskeyfortheages

Hannah’s George Dickel #12 Tennessee Whisky Review

Original review written on February 22, 2020

GENERAL DESCRIPTION:

My first foray into Tennessee Whiskey, this was exciting, but ultimately a little sweet and simple for me, though I can certainly see and understand the appeal of Dickel for those with a sweet tooth. Read my George Dickel #12 Tennessee Whisky Review here! 78/100
Editor’s note: This post was prompted by a request from one of our subscribers.  If you would like to get our opinions on a dram you are considering or currently enjoying, please let us know.

VITALS:

– Made In: Tullahoma, Tennessee, USA
– Distiller: Cascade Hollow Distilling Company
– Classification: Tennessee Whiskey
– Age: nas
– Mash Bill: Corn=84%; Rye=8%; Malted Barley=8%
– Casks: Char #4
– Barrel Entry Proof: undisclosed; chilled and filtered through sugar maple charcoal, as is standard for Tennessee Whiskeys
– ABV: 45% (90 proof)
– Price: $22.95 USD in Idaho

Visit georgedickel.com for more information

ENJOYMENT METHOD:

I enjoyed the juice neat from a Glencairn glass with father and fellow Whiskey for the Ages reviewer, Brian.

Check out his review for this whiskey here!

SETTING:

As it’s a simple pour, enjoy this one at a barbecue/outdoor gathering where the savoriness of some hot dogs and hamburgers provide the bite your palate is looking for. The whiskey’s got the smiles and laughs covered ;).

Photo by Evan Wise on Unsplash

NOSE:

I am greeted with barrel char and an overall sweetness on the nose. It is definitely a cane sugary sweetness with maple and corn syrup, as I would expect of a whiskey that has been filtered this way. There is a pinch of white pepper and a dark stone fruit, perhaps like plums or currants, but it is subtle. I get brown sugar and vanilla custard that eventually bloom to mix with the plain cane sugar and maple.

Deep inhales coax out a candy element, similar to red hots as I can detect just a little bit cinnamon.

It does smell good, but I think that it’s too sweet for me.

PALATE:

– Mouth Feel: This is slightly watery, if I’m honest; it is nothing fancy.
– Balance: Quite simple with a heavier hand for sugary sweetness.
– Visual: Tawny in color with a very red hue, there are minimal and faint legs and no crown – very thin.

– Taste: Both roasted/grilled and boiled corn make an appearance here, being quite dominant. I can also detect new leather and the syrup you’d find in a fruit cup. It’s actually not a bad combination.

Interestingly (and perhaps strangely) enough, I can taste flour, in the way almost like a roux, which is a very new flavor for me in a whiskey.

There is a fruit essence, but it is very light and more in its blossom stage. If I had to pick, I’d say cherry blossoms, but again… very subtle.

I still get the cane sugar, maple, brown sugar and vanilla flavor too. It’s such an intense hit of sweet, and I admittedly prefer a fruit sweetness if anything. As a result, I’m slightly overwhelmed, despite how simple this is overall.

A Kentucky (Tennessee?) chew kicks up char as the only visible spice in the palate, along with sugary sweetness and very little alcohol burn. Personally, one chew was enough.

FINISH:

– Lasting Power: Short. No warmth leftover and flavors fade quickly.
– Between Sips: The fruit cup syrup is mostly all I get, cut by that odd roux essence. Then it goes back to maple and corn syrup which is just confusing my palate because I don’t know what prompted that transition.

– No More: This improves as I get further into the glass, with a simple light caramel warmth mixing with oak as the overriding flavors. Again, not complex or very memorable, but it is enjoyable. At the price, I can’t complain, and it is worth testing out.

The empty Glencairn is a pleasant and fresh oak. I wish I’d gotten that out of the palate more, but I wouldn’t dream of turning it away now.

WORTH THE PRICE?

For the cheap price, I think it’s worth giving a shot, but I’m not sure it’s worth keeping on a shelf in the bunker, at least for me.

RATING: 78/100

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Brian’s George Dickel #12 Tennessee Whisky Review:

23-February-2020

GEORGE DICKEL #12 TENNESSEE WHISKY REVIEW:

George Dickel #12 Tennessee Whisky is simple and sweet with some interesting aromas and flavors. It offers an easy finish as well. At under $25 (USD) it is easy to understand why many choose to make this juice their daily pour. Still, it might be worthwhile to check our Whiskeys by Price post for other options near this price point.
Editor’s note: This post was prompted by a request from one of our subscribers.  If you would like to get our opinions on a dram you are considering or currently enjoying, please let us know.

GEORGE DICKEL #12 TENNESSEE WHISKY VITAL STATS:

– Category: Tennessee Whiskey
– Region: Tullahoma Tennessee, USA
– Distillery: Cascade Hollow Distilling Company
– Mash Bill: 84% corn, 8% rye, 8% malted barley
– Barrel Char: #4
– Barrel entry proof: unpublished
– Age: unpublished
– Chilled and sugar maple charcoal filtered
– ABV: 45% (90 Proof)
– Price: $22.95 USD in Idaho

Learn more at https://georgedickel.com/

ENJOYMENT METHOD:

For the evaluation, I shared the juice neat from Glencairn glasses with my daughter and fellow Whiskey for the Ages reviewer Hannah.

Check out her review for this bourbon here!

NOSE:

Light alcohol greets the nose then gives way to a faint potpourri of fruit blossoms, roasted sweet corn and faint fresh citrus. I also get an unusual, but in no way unpleasant medicinal element. There is a little pepper in there as well but sweetness rules, coming in waves of light vanilla, simple syrup, brown sugar, and candied honey. As I finish nosing, faint toasted almonds hidden in hazy barrel char fade in and out.

PALATE:

The waft alcohol sensed on the nose offers a simple warming bite. This is a corn dominate juice, with just a hint of indistinguishable non-sweet fruit (possibly figs). Its black pepper spiciness is nearly dominated by the sweetness of brown sugared cinnamon, light vanilla, and maple syrup, all of which blends nicely with smokey barrel char and dry oakiness. The slightly strange savory element detected on the nose becomes more apparent and I taste a funky multi-vitamin-like powder. In the end this is a nice, simple pour.

Balance, Body, Feel, and Look:
George Dickel #12 is definitely different than the bourbons I am more accustom to, but not so different I would consider it unusual. The juice is blended well, but in the sense most aromas and flavors are muted and a bit challenging to define. In my mouth it is mellow and creamy but offers a bit of a bite (which I like). In the Glencairn there is no apparent crown, allowing the juice to return in sheets and thin legs to the red-highlighted tawny colored pool.

FINISH:

George Dickel #12 Tennessee Whisky offers a short warm finish of clean faint citrus. The sweetness sensed on the nose and in the mouth doesn’t hang around long either as it gives way to the simple smokiness of barrel char and dry old oak in the empty Glencairn.

MY RATING: 80/100

Will I seek out this whiskey in the future? Yes
But it won’t be a must have in the bunker.
_{Click to read Brian’s scoring process.}

Click 80/100 to access other whiskies with this score.
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WHISKEY TRAITS AND FLAVOR NOTES AND PROFILE GRAPH:

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