Is
it Tennessee Whiskey a Bourbon or not? That's a question that is hotly debated
among whiskey enthusiasts. Folks on the Bourbon side cite how Tennessee Whiskey
meets every legal definition of Bourbon. Folks on the other side will tell you
the Lincoln County Process (LCP) adulterates the whiskey and disqualifies it
from being called Bourbon. Whichever side you fall on, the fact is that
international agreements consider Tennessee Whiskey to be Bourbon.
What
is the LCP? Before the newmake is placed in the barrel, it drips through
charcoal from burnt maple for six days. That charcoal filtering process mellows
the newmake. The LCP is the point of contention in the debate.
The
largest distiller of Tennessee Whiskey is Jack Daniel's, owned by Brown-Forman.
Jack Daniel’s also makes the most popular American whiskey in the world. One
ticklish bit of trivia is that Jack Daniel's is in Moore County, which happens
to be dry. Considering who the county's major employer is and what the county
itself relies on for revenue, that's curiosity, if nothing else.
Today,
I'm reviewing Jack Daniel's Single
Barrel Special Release: Coy Hill Barrelhouse 8. It is made from 80% corn, 12% malted barley, and
8% rye, and it went into the barrel at 125°. It then slept three weeks shy of
11 years in Barrelhouse 8 at Coy Hill.
Several
barrels were picked from this release, all from either the 5th or 6th
floors. They were identified in 2018 and 2019 as special by Master Distiller Chris Fletcher
and set aside. He stated this release was “premeditated and thoughtfully done, and
it turned out perfect.”
“This year’s release builds upon the mystique of the Coy Hill barrel houses that see such drastic temperature swings throughout the whiskey’s maturation. Coy Hill Barrelhouse 8 is the same recipe as our Old No. 7 Tennessee Whiskey, but the unique elements, time, and mother nature have helped to craft a whiskey with an incredible range of flavors and proofs that would be impossible to replicate.” – Chris Fletcher, Master Distiller
Jack
Daniel’s provided me with a sample of this Coy Hill expression in exchange for
my no-strings-attached, honest review. While the various bottles range from about
122° to 137°, the sample I was provided is 134.7° (67.35% ABV). A 750ml of this
limited-edition whiskey has a suggested price of $79.99 and has already been rolled
out nationally.
Thank
you, Jack Daniel’s, for this opportunity to #DrinkCurious.
Appearance: I
poured this whiskey into my Glencairn glass to sip neat. Inside, the liquid had
a deep, dark, burnt-umber appearance. It produced a thick, sticky rim that
allowed pencil-thin tears to race down the side.
Nose: Coy
Hill’s fragrance was evident as I poured it. I was bombarded with smells of
cherries, plums, blueberries, molasses, gingerbread, charred oak, and something
earthy. Drawing the vapor into my mouth, I discovered vanilla and tobacco.
Palate: I let
my glass rest for about ten minutes before exploring it further. The oily yet hefty
texture coated every nook and cranny in my mouth. At the front, I tasted caramelized
bananas, tart cherries, and plums. My mid-palate encountered brown sugar, tobacco,
and rye spice. The back featured much barrel char, black pepper and thick
vanilla.
Finish: The initial
swallow attempted to disguise Coy Hill’s proof. About three seconds later, it rolled
in like a wave. It wasn’t heat; rather, it was unadulterated spices. It was oak.
It was freshly cracked black peppercorns. No, wait. It was clove. These were
big, bold notes that kept changing. And while that was occurring, flavors of rich
caramel, plums, and brown sugar demanded attention. I clocked the finish at 2:48
as it cycled between waxing and waning.
Bottle, Bar, or Bust: I’ve
had some stupidly fantastic Jack Daniel’s Single Barrels. I’ve picked a couple
of them. I also had the previous Coy Hill release. Dear Lord, Coy Hill Barrelhouse
8 is mind-blowing and better than any of them. This whiskey is only $79.99? If
you see this on the shelf, just buy a Bottle. Crack it open, then go
back to the store and buy a second. Trust me on this. Cheers!
My Simple, Easy-to-Understand
Rating System
- Bottle = Buy It
- Bar = Try It
- Bust = Leave It
Whiskeyfellow encourages
you to enjoy your whiskey as you see fit but begs you to do so responsibly.
Comments
Post a Comment
As we should drink in moderation, all comments are subject to it. Cheers!