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
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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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