Hannah’s Gentleman Jack Tennessee Whiskey Review
Original review written April 3. 2020
GENERAL DESCRIPTION:
Gentleman Jack Tennessee Whiskey Review: For my second Tennessee Whiskey, I found Gentleman Jack to be ridiculously simple in its bready flavor profile, with absolutely no burn to speak of… but somehow, I like it? 79/100
VITALS:
– Made In: Lynchburg, Tennessee, USA
– Distillery: Jack Daniel’s Distillery
– Classification: Tennessee Whiskey
– Age: nas
– Mash Bill: Corn=88%; Rye=8%; Malted Barley=12%
– Casks: Char #3
– Barrel Entry Proof: undisclosed
– Double Mellowed*
– ABV: 40% (80 proof)
– Price: $26.95 USD in Idaho
*Gentleman Jack is dripped slowly drop-by-drop – through ten feet of firmly packed charcoal (made from hard sugar maple) twice before going into new charred oak barrels for maturing. This is known as the Lincoln County Process. The second filtering purifies and decreases oakiness, further mellowing and sweetening the whiskey.
Visit jackdaniels.com/en-us for more information
ENJOYMENT METHOD:
I enjoyed the juice neat from a Glencairn glass with father and fellow Whiskey for the Ages reviewer, Brian Dawson.
Check out his review for this whiskey here!
SETTING:
For Gentleman Jack, it only seems appropriate to enjoy this with a sizable group of people around a regal and polished billiards table. The felt is soft like this whiskey and the proof is low enough to enjoy a game or two.
Photo by Avi Richards on Unsplash
NOSE:
Soft sweetness with light caramel/simple syrup, vanilla and very subtle peanuts come through pleasantly. Not going to lie, I definitely assumed that this nose would be too sugary, but it’s actually very gentle (no pun intended). I’m intrigued.
I can pull a little bit of prunes and some hazy barrel char and sweet corn. The alcohol presence is so subdued, it’s almost nonexistent, though this makes sense with a whiskey at this proof.
There is age here certainly, but overall, the nose is still very clean. I suppose it could be more, but for a price tag of under $30, I’m not mad.
PALATE:
– Mouth Feel: Buttery and silken beyond belief.
– Balance: Overwhelmingly simple – not a lot going on here at all.
– Visual: Russet muscat in color, there are a fair number of clinging droplets and legs. They look nice.
– Taste: Buttery pecans and bitter walnuts bloom on the first sip, with ground versions of each acting as a foundation. Other than that flour/meal component, I’m not entirely sure what I’ve just tasted. It’s as though there is a wood element (wouldn’t go so far as oak necessarily), but it’s unsure of where it fits.
Still no spice, and the sugary flavors from the nose seem to have completely disappeared. The most sweetness in the glass comes from a plain white bread-esque essence, which isn’t bad despite its plainness. There COULD be some overripe apples at the tail end of the sip, but it dissipates so quickly, it’s hard to tell.
A Kentucky chew will give less burn than a swish of an alcohol based mouthwash, and it doesn’t seem to wake up any new flavors either.
This is overwhelmingly simple and perhaps bland, but somehow, I like it? Maybe for its uniqueness from any whiskey I’ve ever had or maybe because I feel perpetually confused/interested at every sip – I don’t know. It keeps me hunting for other flavors because no way is it only pecans and walnuts. Still, those continue to practically be all I can get.
FINISH:
– Lasting Power: Short with only the slightest indication I’ve sipped whiskey.
– Between Sips: If I squint, MAYBE some McIntosh apples (red baking apples that are super soft) and a drop of honey. Likely the most “complex” aspect of this pour… if I can even use that word.
– No More: The bread hinted at in the palate does seem to grow as I progress further into the glass; however, I would amend my white bread claim to now being more similar to a pretzel bread or roll you can get in the bakery part of the grocery store. I can report also that it is still growing on me.
The empty Glencairn continues to be a sweet breadiness. This is overall a far cry from a favorite, though it was still enjoyable, and I’d be comfortable reaching into the bunker for it again.
WORTH THE PRICE?
Advertised as being more premium than standard Jack Daniel’s, and for a market that is limited in its offerings of Tennessee Whiskeys, I think Gentleman Jack is a safe bet for those who may be starting their whiskey adventure. It is simple, but it’s also low proof, and can still be enjoyable with company, which to me is an absolute must. So yes, this is worth the price.
RATING: 79/100
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