In 2016, Jack Daniel's, one of the most popular American whiskeys, celebrated its 150th anniversary. For a century and a half, the alcoholic drink has become one of the symbols of free America, and the unique taste allows whiskey from Tennessee to successfully compete with eminent Scottish and Irish brands. More than 11 million bottles are sold annually, and Jack Daniels whiskey rightfully occupies the top line in the ranking of sales of American alcohol in the world.

The history of Jack Daniel's whiskey

The famous alcoholic drink got its name in honor of the creator of the company of the same name, Jack Daniel, who was born in 1850. From an early age, Jack was interested in the peculiarities of the production of spirits. Already at the age of eight, Daniel worked at the distillery for the Lutheran priest Dann Call, and by the age of 13 he had studied the technological process in detail. An enterprising young man in 1886 managed to organize a full-fledged production, as evidenced by the brand sticker on the bottle “Est. & Reg. in 1866 ".

According to the surviving documents, officially, the Jack Daniel's company was registered in 1875, and in 1884 Daniel acquired a plot of land, where the first plant of the famous company was located. By 1897, the image of Jack Daniels whiskey was finally formed - the product began to be bottled in square bottles. According to Daniel himself, this form was fully associated with a sense of justice and honesty, which have become the company's credo for many years. Another original move from the head of the company was the abandonment of oak corks in favor of screw caps, which were much more convenient.

Interesting fact: the famous brand “Old No. 7 "indicates the state registration number of Daniel's distillery. Over time, the number in the state register was changed, but Daniel continued to use the original number, since Jack Daniel's whiskey “Old No. 7 "has already earned a certain reputation among American connoisseurs of spirits.

In 1904, at the St. Louis Exhibition, Jack Daniels received a medal for Best American Whiskey, further boosting sales. The relatively cheap drink is in demand among small businesses, workers and farmers. But the growing influence of the American Temperance Society is negatively affecting the company, and Daniel was forced to relocate production from Tennessee to Missouri and Alabama.

And after the entry into force of the famous "Prohibition", the production of whiskey was completely suspended, and the old stocks became one of the sources of income for the mafia - bottles of whiskey were illegally supplied to bars and clubs. The situation changed in 1933, and by 1938, production was completely restarted.

Whiskey from Tennessee

In 1941, a significant event for the Jack Daniels brand takes place - at the initiative of the Governor of Tennessee, alcoholic beverages are classified according to geographical origin. As a result, Jack Daniel's is no longer classified as bourbon, and is singled out as a "Tennessee whiskey" category. It is worth noting that there is another whiskey producer in Tennessee - George Dickel, but the production volumes of the latter do not allow competing with JD.

After the end of World War II, production of Jack Daniel's whiskey steadily increased, and after the sale of the brand to the Brown-Forman Corporation in 1956, the drink began to strengthen its position in the international market. In 1964, corn whiskey was declared a National Treasure of the United States.

Original recipe and production technology

Jack Daniels is distinguished by its original production technology, which allows alcohol that falls under the classification of "bourbon" to be sold under the brand name "Tennessee Whiskey".

As in classic bourbons, Jack Daniel's main ingredient is corn wort (in Scotland and Ireland, whiskey is traditionally brewed from barley). The use of corn is due to the climatic characteristics of the southeastern states of the United States. This cereal is grown on a huge scale - more than 200 million tons per year. The original Jack Daniels recipe is 80% corn, 12% barley and 8% rye.

The distillation itself is carried out in copper stills, followed by a proprietary purification procedure that distinguishes Tennessee Whiskey from bourbon - the distillation product is filtered through a 3-meter layer of charcoal. For filtration, coal is used exclusively from sugar maple (it is from this tree that the famous maple syrup is obtained).

Proprietary filtration allows you to muffle the characteristic flavor of corn, and to minimize the content of fusel oils and other impurities. The filtration procedure is patented and known worldwide as The Lincoln County Process.

Also, in the production process, pure spring water is used, which gives the drink a characteristic taste.

Fun fact: There is a monument to Jack Daniel in Lynchburg, Tennessee. The famous master is depicted near the stream, where he collected water to make whiskey.

The aging period is regulated - at least 4 years, however, according to unofficial data, the company's masters usually focus on their own instincts, allowing the distillate to be bottled after tasting.

Lynchburg Central Distillery

The main production of Jack Daniel's whiskey is concentrated in the city of Lynchburg. The territory of the distillery is located near a natural cave from which a stream flows. At the base of the cave, there are centuries-old limestone deposits that naturally filter spring water. As a result, the iron content is minimized, which greatly improves the taste of the whiskey.

Interesting fact: the states of Kentucky and Tennessee lie on a huge layer of limestone, which is why the production of high-quality alcohol is concentrated here. Kentucky is home to the most famous bourbonJimBeam.

There are several dozen special storage facilities on the territory of Lynchburg, in which more than 1.9 million barrels of whiskey mature. The peculiarities of the Tennessee climate have a direct impact on the taste of Jack Daniel's, so lovers of strong alcohol immediately distinguish the drink from the classic American bourbon.

Already at the end of the 20th century, the central plant turned into a popular tourist center. The distillery is annually visited by about 250,000 people, visitors can get acquainted with the production technology and purchase collectible Jack Daniels varieties.

Jack Daniels assortment

Over the years of impeccable work, consumers have been presented with several brands under the Jack Daniel's brand, with different types of taste and aroma qualities.

Popular varieties:

Interesting fact: the famous American singer Frank Sinatra once called Jack Daniel's whiskey "the nectar of the gods" (publication in the magazineTrue 1954), which led to a significant increase in demand. As a result, the company named one of the varieties after him (Sinatra Century 1998).

Despite the variety of Jack Daniels varieties, Old No. 7. It is the "Black Label" that is considered the business card of the company, combining affordable cost with excellent taste.

Jack Daniel's based cocktails

The American culture of whiskey consumption was formed on the basis of the preferences of connoisseurs of spirits. The most popular option is whiskey and soda; crushed ice is traditionally used to cool the drink. However, the elite varieties of Jack Daniel's are preferable to use in their pure form, this allows you to fully experience the taste and aroma of the drink after many years of aging.

In the post-Soviet space, the combination of Jack Daniels with freshly brewed coffee has become widespread. A traditional Irish recipe using Tennessee whiskey is the original combination of coffee aroma and American strength.

Jack Daniel's - cult-elevated alcohol

Jack Daniels is very popular among the inhabitants of the musical Olympus. In addition to the aforementioned Frank Sinatra, the quality of Tennessee whiskey was appreciated by members of the Rolling Stones, as well as the world famous Led Zeppelin and Amy Winehouse. It was considered chic to enter the stage with an open bottle of JD. This popularity was appreciated by the company's marketers, changing promotions towards the elitism of a mass product.

Fans of Jack Daniel’s whiskey are always confident in the quality of the cult alcohol, it’s not for nothing that the company's slogan sounds like: « As long as we make whiskey, we will make it as high quality as we can. "

Say what you like, but good, high-quality whiskey will always remain in trend. Despite the solid cost, this drink will always be popular with true connoisseurs of exclusive. We will talk about the popular Jack Daniels whiskey. How to distinguish a fake from an original?

A few words directly about the whiskey itself

Jack Daniels ... Nowadays it is already almost Endless expanses of social networks are full of information that this drink is an ideal friend, reliable companion and just a pass to the amazing atmosphere of luxury and wealth. With such advertising, it is impossible not to become a super popular drink all over the world.

Nevertheless, advertising is far from being the case. is considered to be the best of its kind. This is due to the unique technology of its production, which, in turn, includes filtration using maple charcoal. It is this feature that gives the drink extraordinary softness and such a fullness of taste.

It is not surprising that this drink is very often tried to counterfeit and profit from the well-promoted Jack Daniels brand. How to distinguish a fake and not become a victim of scammers?

Characteristics of the well-known whiskey

The first and most significant factor to pay immediate attention to is the cost of alcoholic beverages. So, the price of a liter bottle of an exclusive drink should not be less than 700 Russian rubles. Even if the seller or consultant bets that this is a confiscated goods from duty-free, you should not agree to such a dubious offer.

Of course, the price is not the only factor that will tell you how to distinguish an original Jack Daniels whiskey from a fake. There are a few more features worth paying close attention to.

The next point is the color of the drink. Real "Jack Daniels" is always transparent (yellow tint is allowed). The fact is that only purified water is used in the manufacture of whiskey and the latest filtration technologies are used, so there can be no impurities or precipitates there.

How to tell a real Jack Daniels from a fake?

A good way to make sure once again that this is the original, and not a copy, is to shake the contents of the bottle. If you shake a bottle of Jack Daniels well, you can recognize the nature of its contents. Ideally, fairly large bubbles should appear, which persist for a fairly long time.

In order to know for sure how to distinguish real Daniels "from a fake, it is worth remembering about one important quality of almost any exclusive drink. You need to check how the whiskey flows down the walls of the bottle. So, the original alcohol flows slowly, but an obvious fake will tend to do it. much faster.

Consider the original Jack Daniels bottle

How to distinguish a fake? This question worries many buyers. The exclusive packaging deserves special attention. It also allows you to distinguish the original from the fake.

First of all, the lid of the original Jack Daniels bottle must have a plastic shell that protects the lid itself. The cork should be made only of plastic, but a fake surrogate is often sealed with a metal cork.

The label on a genuine bottle has a slightly convex pattern; the font should be clear, not blurry and maintain the required proportions. There is one more nuance regarding the packaging of exclusive alcohol. How to tell a real Jack Daniels whiskey from a fake? Sometimes it is enough to look at the bottle. It should be square in shape, and on its front side there is a recognizable Jack Daniels engraving.

Whiskey counterfeit options

Forewarned is forearmed. It is worth getting to know some of the options for counterfeiting elite alcohol. Most often, you can recognize it by looking closely at the label.

First of all, any bottle must be present.The label itself must be well and evenly glued - any traces or residues of glue speak eloquently about counterfeit products.

An inscription like "will also indicate that the buyer has a clear imitation in his hands. The simple word" Blended "very transparently hints that this is most likely a mixture of several varieties, but definitely not the real Jack Daniels.

A completely different matter - the inscriptions Deluxe or Premium - they say that the buyer is holding an elite variety of whiskey, which is made only from barley, malt and corn, without the addition of food additives, flavors or alcohol impurities.

These are the most characteristic features of the original Jack Daniels products. How to distinguish a fake, how not to fall for the tricks of scammers? It is enough just to know a few key features of the original products and not be led by those who seek to cash in on someone else's name. It should be noted that nowadays there are more frequent cases when malefactors counterfeit a fairly large amount of exclusive alcoholic beverages.

The priest Denn Call is considered the pioneer of the Jack Daniel's brand. He was the owner of the distillery and made high-quality whiskey there. Once he took a seven-year-old boy Jasper Daniel as his assistant. The boy, despite his young age, turned out to be very smart, he quickly comprehended all the intricacies of making whiskey and soon the priest Denn made him his full-fledged partner in the production. After the death of Denn Call, Jasper Daniel became the sole owner of the distillery. This was the beginning of the great history of the legendary Jack Daniel's drink.

The uniqueness of the drink is that additional purification through maple coal is used in its production. Thanks to this, the whiskey acquires a special taste and softness.

Gradually, over time, the small distillery grew into a full-fledged Jack Daniel's whiskey distillery. Already in 1866, the distillery was officially registered, and it was the world's first official production of whiskey.

Soon the plant was moved to the city of Lichburg, because there were springs with very soft and crystal clear water. Jasper was well aware that the quality and taste of the drink directly depends on the quality of the water.

At first, the whiskey was sold in clay bottles with wooden corks and an engraving of Mr. Jack. In 1895, a square-shaped bottle was born, which is still used today. These bottles are very convenient to use and transport. The shape of the bottles has not changed since then, only the manufacturer adds additional protective signs to their design. This helps protect against counterfeiting.

Since 1904, Jack Daniel's has won awards for the best whiskey in the world at various exhibitions almost every year.

The recipe for the drink did not change until 1988. This year, the new head of the brand, Jack Reir, decided to change the technology of whiskey production. Since then, the drink has undergone double purification: before being placed in a barrel and after four years of aging through ordinary coal. This gave the whiskey even greater softness and at the same time a special characteristic taste.

The popularity of the brand provokes fraudsters to fake, which is not surprising: the price of a liter bottle of the drink on the Russian market is almost 2,500 rubles. In order not to become a victim of deception, you should know how to distinguish the real Jack Daniels from the fake one.

Comparative analysis of the original and the counterfeit

Counterfeiting is carried out in various ways. Most often, counterfeit whiskey is bottled in its own production - they are far from the branded counterpart. The sticker, cork, protective shell of a fake drink also have a lot of differences from real accessories. Occasionally, the bottling is carried out in branded bottles, but even then an attentive buyer will be able to distinguish a subtle fake without opening the container. Next, let's talk about everything in order.

Bottle

The manufacturer packs Jack Daniels in containers that have the shape of a parallelepiped with sharp vertical and horizontal edges and pronounced upper and lower edges. You can notice a fake already at this stage of the analysis: its upper and lower edges are usually rounded.

Pay attention to the design detail, which is very difficult to falsify. The original has an easy-to-read convex logo - Jack Daniels (in words) engraved on the shoulders on four sides, and on the lower edge - a relief inscription informing about the liter. You can distinguish a fake Jack Daniels by blurry, poorly distinguishable embossing.

Neck

The original Jack Daniels bottle has a slightly "pot-bellied" configuration, slightly tapering towards the cork. At the bottom of the neck there are rectangular edges of equal width. A fake bottle of whiskey can be easily distinguished by its cylindrical neck with faint rectangles that smoothly turn into shoulders.

Bottom

It should be in the shape of a well-defined square with 45o cut corners. On the surface of the glass, there is an embossed, legibly written information for the buyer. The counterfeit is identified by the rounded corners of the square. The next sign of Jack Daniels tampering is a fairly noticeable circle after the press machine. It overrides already poorly readable information.

Cork

Continuing our excursion to the definition of a fake, let's take a closer look at the bottle cork. Unlike the fake, the real Jack Daniels will have a black plastic cork with an even section, which, together with the neck of the bottle, is covered by three-quarters of a dark glossy film. As for the counterfeit, here you can usually see a metal plug that lacks a protective film.

Label

Use the internet to carefully study its updated design to know the exact spelling and dimensions of the text. When examining the proposed bottle of whiskey, pay attention to the accuracy of the attachment, the absence of traces of glue on the label. When branded, it is located absolutely symmetrically, covering 3 sides of the bottle. On the left and right edges at the bottom, there are well-visible and tangible corrugations. A fake can be distinguished by a crookedly pasted label, lack of relief.

On the original version of Jack Daniels there is not a single inscription in Russian, and at the very bottom of the sticker is the batch number - the so-called EI code. The numbers indicate the barrel number and the date of packing. If, before opening the bottle, you could not distinguish a fake whiskey from a real one, see if a dispenser is present? Its presence is one of the hallmarks of the Jack Daniels signature drink.

Appearance, smell and taste

Visual and olfactory signs of the noble drink are dark amber color and aroma with notes of haze. If you have already tasted Jack Daniels, then you are familiar with its special taste: tart-sweet, with hints of caramel and vanilla. If you notice at least one of the signs of a fake, and after opening the bottle, you felt a strong alcoholic smell, you should not risk your health and drink dubious "whiskey".

Where and how to buy Jack Daniels?

Elite alcohol is best purchased in a specialized store, where you can safely check all the parameters, read the accompanying documents. In a supermarket, this will be very problematic. In our time, Internet trade, including alcoholic beverages, is on a large scale. In order not to receive a counterfeit paid in advance by mail, make a purchase with cash on delivery and conduct a visual analysis before calculating.

Conclusions. How to distinguish real alcohol from fake?

Jack Daniel's forgery signs

1. Metal cover - original Jack Daniel's Available only with a plastic lid covered with a plastic sheath.
2. Round "shoulders" of the bottle - since 2011, bottles have been produced in a new design.
3. Smooth "shoulders" - on the "shoulders" of the bottle on four sides there should be an embossed Jack Daniel's inscription.
4. "Curve" label - the label must be glued evenly, and the order of the inscriptions on it must correspond to the established sample.
5. The presence of the Registered trade-mark on the bottle neck shell.
6. Registration. If the size of the inscriptions and fonts did not cause you any doubts, then take a closer look at the accuracy of attaching the label to the bottle. Unlike the original, where it is located symmetrically on all three edges and has a clear relief, traces of glue can be noticeable on the counterfeit along the edges of the attachment, and the label itself is fixed unevenly and with no relief. We also draw your attention to the fact that on the label of this Jack Daniels instructions and designations are applied only in English, and in the very corner of the sticker there is a unique EI code that indicates the barrel number and the date of packaging.
7. Look, smell and taste. If visual inspection did not give you any results, then the last option for authentication is tasting and visual inspection. A true American Jack Daniels should have a deep, dark amber color with light hints of haze. When drinking the drink, pay attention to its taste. Remember, an authentic brand must be tart and sweet, reminiscent of the sweetness of caramel and vanilla. And a fake, unlike the original, will make itself felt immediately after uncorking, emitting a pungent alcoholic smell.
8. Shop. To finally be sure of the quality of Jack Daniels, buy it in specialized stores, where it is much easier to verify the authenticity of the goods due to the presence of accompanying documents for the entire batch of alcohol. But we do not recommend trusting supermarkets.

World-famous alcoholic Jack Daniels is a seasoned strong corn blend traditional for the American South.

As a rule, he is either loved or hated, and both do with every fiber of the soul. The history of Jack Daniels whiskey is full of mysteries, curiosities and hoaxes, at times bordering on outright cheating. Let's start with them.

Jack Daniels - Curious Facts

1850 - the official date of birth of the founder of the brand Jasper (Jack) Newton Daniel, is an ordinary fiction. The documents associated with this event have been lost. However, according to reports, the mother of the future wiskikura died no later than 1849.

The date of foundation of the company, proudly flaunting on the label, is also fictitious. In fact, Jasper Daniel registered his paternal distillery that had previously belonged to his employer, Protestant preacher Dann Call, not in 1866, and not earlier than 1875.

Although in terms of raw materials and technology, the drink produced by Jasper did not differ in any way from the classic bourbon (corn base, burnt barrels, etc.), the creator himself persistently called it whiskey from Tennessee. The reason for this, in his opinion, was the filtration of the young distillate using a three-meter layer of crushed charcoal obtained from American maple (by the way, it seems that the mentioned method itself was invented not by Jasper, but by his teacher Call). As a result, in 2013-2014 the definition of "Tennessee Whiskey" was assigned to this type of alcohol at the legislative level. At the same time, after the producers of bourbon also began to use the mentioned filtration method, the difference between the two categories of drinks finally disappeared.

Although Jack's original distillery registration number changed from 7 to 16, the most common brand of his product retained its original name: Old No. 7.

The popular story of the last days of the founding father of the brand is also questioned. According to tradition, the elderly Jack flew into a rage, unable to remember the code from the lock of his own safe, kicked the rebellious piece of iron with all his might and broke his finger. As a result, he began to have blood poisoning, which was fatal. According to the same tragicomic story, the dying whiskicur left this world with the words: "give me a drink."

With the transfer of the family business to Brown-Forman in 1956, the curiosities and hoaxes did not stop. For example, from the 60s of the last century to the present day, the same number of residents of the small homeland of the drink appears in advertising campaigns: the town of Lynchburg.

An unpleasant surprise for lovers of the drink was the story of Old No. 7 Black Label. According to the established tradition, the classic "Black" Jack, in contrast to its younger forty-degree "Green" counterpart, contained an honest 45 turns. However, the manufacturer of the drink, in the complete absence of any publicity or advertising campaign, reduced the alcohol content in the "Black Mark" first to 43% (1987), and then to 40% (2002). Thus, today, the only difference between the Black and Green brands is that for the first one uses the spirits from the barrels located on the lower floors of the whiskey storage, and for the second - the contents of the barrels of the upper tier, which, according to the company's employees, matures a little. faster.

A separate topic for thought is the aging period of Jack Daniels whiskey. The aging of standard drinks is allegedly 4 years. However, there is a "minor" disclaimer from the manufacturers. According to them, the company does not recognize the calendar, but uses its own spirits, guided by the professional instinct of its own tasters.

And a few years ago, in one of the collectible lots of corn, in general, the label played around. Jack Daniels, specially released in memory of Daniel's nephew and successor: Lema Jesse Motlow, contained on the bottles an erroneous definition of the period of the latter's entrepreneurial activity (1911-1944 instead of 1911-1941). The error was quickly found and eliminated, but, as they say, the sediment remained.

Well, and a kind of culmination was the episodic collaboration of the company with the environmental organization American Forests (American Forests). Despite the fact that the newly-minted conservationists not only use a huge amount of charcoal for their needs, but each batch of their distillate is kept in freshly made oak barrels.

Jack Daniels whiskey composition

The wort of the future drink is 80% corn. This is followed by 12% rye and 8% barley. In addition, in recent years, Tennessee whiskeyers have been trying to popularize the state's traditional un aged rye distillate; but apparently without much success. A separate source of pride for the company is the water used in the production, gushing from the underground source Cave Spring, discovered by the founder of the brand himself.

Varieties of whiskey Jack Daniels

Jack's basic drinks range is quite small. He has three main names.

Old No. 7 in two forty-degree versions (Black Label and less common Green Label) - an ordinary drink with a sweetish caramel-vanilla flavor and a characteristic smoky smell. Recommended for use in mixes and cocktails (for example, with apple juice or cola). Although, if you are a real cowboy, you don't need to dilute it.

Gentleman Jack- another forty-degree representative of the brand. Undergoes double carbon filtration: before placing in barrels and before direct blending. As a result, the taste of the drink is more balanced and the aftertaste is softer. It is drunk neat at a serving temperature of 18-21 ° C. Also, according to the manufacturer, Gentleman Jack is the optimal component for the legendary Manhattan.

Single Barrel- single malt digestif of double filtration with a maturation period of 6 years or more. This is a 47-degree dark amber aristocrat from the house of Jack Daniels, whose taste and aroma is distinguished by a pronounced personality. So, along with the classic smoky-vanilla-caramel set, here you can guess the shades of iris, ripe fruits and exotic spices.

Tennessee fire- another signature 35-degree liqueur based on OLD NO. 7. This time, with the addition of cinnamon essence. The drink works with contrasts. At first, it gives the impression of a soft, sugary cinnamon-vanilla-caramel idyll, then it overwhelms with a wave of fiery fortress. The product was released in 2015. Since, in fact, it is itself a cocktail, it does not need to be diluted with anything. Although, many Americans cannot resist the temptation to splash some cola there.

Tennessee Honey- A 35-degree dessert drink with a special honey liqueur and classic OLD NO. 7. As a result, a rather strong blend is obtained, which has honey notes in taste and aroma, as well as a rather mild aftertaste. It appeared on the market in 2011. The additional image of a bee placed on the label attracts the attention of buyers. The drink is recommended to be consumed neat from tulip glasses at a serving temperature of 18-21 ° C. If desired, you can mix it with ginger, lemonade or lemon juice, and also use it as a base in bishop cocktails.

In addition, the producers of the drink we are interested in periodically release small batches of collection and semi-collection blends created on the occasion of any significant event. Such names include: Silver Cornet, White Rabbit Saloon, Tennessee Bicentennial, Sinatra's 100th Birthday, etc.

How to spot a fake Jack Daniels

Since Jack Daniels is one of the best-selling spirits in the world, the practice of counterfeiting is widespread among counterfeit alcohol producers. In this regard, the question: "How to verify Jack Daniels for authenticity" is by no means rhetorical.

Quite often, one quick glance at the bottle is enough to identify a fake.

The real Jack Daniels has:

1. Covering three sides of the vessel, neatly glued, high-quality and free from grammatical errors label.
2. Characteristic plastic cork and impeccable excise stamp.
3. Alcohol is not inherent: the presence of the slightest sediment or turbidity, as well as high (30% plus) promotional discounts.
4. It is recommended to shake the contents of the bottle. As a result, if you are dealing with an authentic drink, easily distinguishable air bubbles will appear on the surface of the liquid.

If your potential purchase has successfully passed the initial tests, you should take a closer look at the bottle.

1. The original Jack Daniels is poured into sturdy square containers with smooth, unlubricated edges, well-written inscriptions engraved on the shoulders, and a perfectly square bottom with well-defined corners.
2. The neck of the vessel should also be faceted and have a convex ring at the base (by the way, the level of the drink must just slightly exceed the level of this very ring).
3. The cork should be neatly tightened with a perforated plastic wrap containing the name of the type of drink on the front and the inscription "Tennessee WHISKEY" on the back.

And finally, it is worth comparing the brand you buy with the volume of liquid indicated on the bottle.

1. Old No.7 is available in containers of 0.35, 0.5, 0.7, 1, 1.75 and 3 liters; in addition, this particular Jack Daniels, a small bottle of which contains 50 ml of the drink, brightens the life of numerous air passengers in duty free shops and in aircraft cabins.
2. The Gentleman Jack is limited to 0.35, 0.5, 0.75, and 1 liter.
3. Single Barrel is found only in bottles of 0.75 liters, in the case of the American standard, and 0.7 liters in the case of the European standard.

In general, it turns out that under today's realities, it is much more difficult to fake a drink from Tennessee than to be a victim of a fake.

In 2016, Jack Daniel's, one of the most popular American whiskeys, celebrated its 150th anniversary. For a century and a half, the alcoholic drink has become one of the symbols of free America, and the unique taste allows whiskey from Tennessee to successfully compete with eminent Scottish and Irish brands. More than 11 million bottles are sold annually, and Jack Daniels whiskey rightfully occupies the top line in the ranking of sales of American alcohol in the world.

The history of Jack Daniel's whiskey

The famous alcoholic drink got its name in honor of the creator of the company of the same name, Jack Daniel, who was born in 1850. From an early age, Jack was interested in the peculiarities of the production of spirits. Already at the age of eight, Daniel worked at the distillery for the Lutheran priest Dann Call, and by the age of 13 he had studied the technological process in detail. An enterprising young man in 1886 managed to organize a full-fledged production, as evidenced by the brand sticker on the bottle “Est. & Reg. in 1866 ".

According to the surviving documents, officially, the Jack Daniel's company was registered in 1875, and in 1884 Daniel acquired a plot of land, where the first plant of the famous company was located. By 1897, the image of Jack Daniels whiskey was finally formed - the product began to be bottled in square bottles. According to Daniel himself, this form was fully associated with a sense of justice and honesty, which have become the company's credo for many years. Another original move from the head of the company was the abandonment of oak corks in favor of screw caps, which were much more convenient.

Interesting fact: the famous brand “Old No. 7 "indicates the state registration number of Daniel's distillery. Over time, the number in the state register was changed, but Daniel continued to use the original number, since Jack Daniel's whiskey “Old No. 7 "has already earned a certain reputation among American connoisseurs of spirits.

In 1904, at the St. Louis Exhibition, Jack Daniels received a medal for Best American Whiskey, further boosting sales. The relatively cheap drink is in demand among small businesses, workers and farmers. But the growing influence of the American Temperance Society is negatively affecting the company, and Daniel was forced to relocate production from Tennessee to Missouri and Alabama.

And after the entry into force of the famous "Prohibition", the production of whiskey was completely suspended, and the old stocks became one of the sources of income for the mafia - bottles of whiskey were illegally supplied to bars and clubs. The situation changed in 1933, and by 1938, production was completely restarted.

Whiskey from Tennessee

In 1941, a significant event for the Jack Daniels brand takes place - at the initiative of the Governor of Tennessee, alcoholic beverages are classified according to geographical origin. As a result, Jack Daniel's is no longer classified as bourbon, and is singled out as a "Tennessee whiskey" category. It is worth noting that there is another whiskey producer in Tennessee - George Dickel, but the production volumes of the latter do not allow competing with JD.

After the end of World War II, production of Jack Daniel's whiskey steadily increased, and after the sale of the brand to the Brown-Forman Corporation in 1956, the drink began to strengthen its position in the international market. In 1964, corn whiskey was declared a National Treasure of the United States.

Original recipe and production technology

Jack Daniels is distinguished by its original production technology, which allows alcohol that falls under the classification of "bourbon" to be sold under the brand name "Tennessee Whiskey".

As in classic bourbons, Jack Daniel's main ingredient is corn wort (in Scotland and Ireland, whiskey is traditionally brewed from barley). The use of corn is due to the climatic characteristics of the southeastern states of the United States. This cereal is grown on a huge scale - more than 200 million tons per year. The original Jack Daniels recipe is 80% corn, 12% barley and 8% rye.

The distillation itself is carried out in copper stills, followed by a proprietary purification procedure that distinguishes Tennessee Whiskey from bourbon - the distillation product is filtered through a 3-meter layer of charcoal. For filtration, coal is used exclusively from sugar maple (it is from this tree that the famous maple syrup is obtained).

Proprietary filtration allows you to muffle the characteristic flavor of corn, and to minimize the content of fusel oils and other impurities. The filtration procedure is patented and known worldwide as The Lincoln County Process.

Also, in the production process, pure spring water is used, which gives the drink a characteristic taste.

Fun fact: There is a monument to Jack Daniel in Lynchburg, Tennessee. The famous master is depicted near the stream, where he collected water to make whiskey.

The aging period is regulated - at least 4 years, however, according to unofficial data, the company's masters usually focus on their own instincts, allowing the distillate to be bottled after tasting.

Lynchburg Central Distillery

The main production of Jack Daniel's whiskey is concentrated in the city of Lynchburg. The territory of the distillery is located near a natural cave from which a stream flows. At the base of the cave, there are centuries-old limestone deposits that naturally filter spring water. As a result, the iron content is minimized, which greatly improves the taste of the whiskey.

Interesting fact: the states of Kentucky and Tennessee lie on a huge layer of limestone, which is why the production of high-quality alcohol is concentrated here. Kentucky is home to the most famous bourbonJimBeam.

There are several dozen special storage facilities on the territory of Lynchburg, in which more than 1.9 million barrels of whiskey mature. The peculiarities of the Tennessee climate have a direct impact on the taste of Jack Daniel's, so lovers of strong alcohol immediately distinguish the drink from the classic American bourbon.

Already at the end of the 20th century, the central plant turned into a popular tourist center. The distillery is annually visited by about 250,000 people, visitors can get acquainted with the production technology and purchase collectible Jack Daniels varieties.

Jack Daniels assortment

Over the years of impeccable work, consumers have been presented with several brands under the Jack Daniel's brand, with different types of taste and aroma qualities.

Popular varieties:

Interesting fact: the famous American singer Frank Sinatra once called Jack Daniel's whiskey "the nectar of the gods" (publication in the magazineTrue 1954), which led to a significant increase in demand. As a result, the company named one of the varieties after him (Sinatra Century 1998).

Despite the variety of Jack Daniels varieties, Old No. 7. It is the "Black Label" that is considered the business card of the company, combining affordable cost with excellent taste.

Jack Daniel's based cocktails

The American culture of whiskey consumption was formed on the basis of the preferences of connoisseurs of spirits. The most popular option is whiskey and soda; crushed ice is traditionally used to cool the drink. However, the elite varieties of Jack Daniel's are preferable to use in their pure form, this allows you to fully experience the taste and aroma of the drink after many years of aging.

In the post-Soviet space, the combination of Jack Daniels with freshly brewed coffee has become widespread. A traditional Irish recipe using Tennessee whiskey is the original combination of coffee aroma and American strength.

Jack Daniel's - cult-elevated alcohol

Jack Daniels is very popular among the inhabitants of the musical Olympus. In addition to the aforementioned Frank Sinatra, the quality of Tennessee whiskey was appreciated by members of the Rolling Stones, as well as the world famous Led Zeppelin and Amy Winehouse. It was considered chic to enter the stage with an open bottle of JD. This popularity was appreciated by the company's marketers, changing promotions towards the elitism of a mass product.

Fans of Jack Daniel’s whiskey are always confident in the quality of the cult alcohol, it’s not for nothing that the company's slogan sounds like: « As long as we make whiskey, we will make it as high quality as we can. "