Jack Daniel's Tennessee Blackberry Flavored Whiskey Review

 

Just because the kids are heading back to school doesn’t mean summer is quite over. It is still blistering hot out there. For some folks, that means they want something a bit lighter than high-proofed, neat whiskey. One of the things we consider is flavored whiskey.

 

What, exactly, is flavored whiskey? According to the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (what everyone else calls the TTB), the legal definition is a "whiskey that’s flavored with natural flavoring materials, with or without the addition of sugar, bottled at not less than 30% alcohol by volume.

 

The name of the predominant flavor shall appear as part of the class and type designation, e.g., “Cherry Flavored Whisky.” Wine may be added, but if the addition exceeds 2½% by volume of the finished product, the classes and/or types and percentages (by volume) of wine must be stated as part of the class and type designation."

 

The emphasis on natural is mine, and that’s purposeful. Now, when I mention flavored whiskey, there is a segment of whiskey drinkers who will roll their eyes and give you some long, in-depth explanation as to why you shouldn’t drink it. That’s a clear violation of the #DrinkCurious mantra. If you need another reason, there’s this:

 

“In my experience, there are two types of flavored whiskeys. The first involves attempting to salvage substandard whiskey by burying it in additives. The second is adding or infusing flavors into otherwise decent whiskey to enhance it. Yes, there is a real difference.” – The Whiskeyfellow, on many occasions.

 

Last week, Jack Daniel’s launched Tennessee Blackberry, which is a blend of blackberry liqueur (made from real blackberries) and Jack Daniel’s Old No. 7 Tennessee Whiskey. Packaged at 70°, it exceeds the minimum required by the TTB.   

 

Why blackberry? It seems that various distilleries release the same whiskey flavor at about the same time, and blackberry is the flavor du jour. Did Jack Daniel’s simply jump on the bandwagon, or is theirs worth drinking?

 

Thankfully, Jack Daniel’s was kind enough to send me a sample of Tennessee Blackberry in exchange for my no-strings-attached, honest review. Let’s see if we can answer that last question.

 

• Whiskey Type: Flavored Whiskey
• Distiller: Jack Daniel’s
• Age: NAS
• Mashbill: 80% corn, 12% rye, 8% malted barley blended with blackberry liqueur
• Cooperage: new, 53-gallon charred oak barrels
• Alcohol Content: 35% ABV (70°)
• Price per 750mL: $21.99

 

Appearance: For the record, Jack Daniel’s suggests it can be enjoyed neat, over ice, with lemonade or soda, and in a variety of cocktails. I opted for a neat pour in a Glencairn glass, mostly because I’m not sure what else to use.

 

There was nothing unusual about its color; it was a dull orange amber. A massive rim formed and stuck to the wall like glue. All the tears were thick; however, they traveled at different speeds; some were syrupy, and others raced down the wall.

 

Nose: Tennessee Blackberry smelled like candy, specifically Jolly Rancher blackberry candies. Beneath that, I found a hint of vanilla. Beyond that, I couldn’t discern anything. I drew the air into my mouth and discovered muted blackberry candy and leather.

 

Palate: The whiskey’s texture was airy and slick, almost like a whipped mousse. It was different. What I tasted was blackberry, but it was soft. There was a semblance of Old No. 7 as well, with brown sugar, oak tannins, and a bit of cinnamon. It really didn’t have a front, middle, or back; the first thing I tasted was blackberry, and the last, cinnamon.

 

Finish: Weighing in at a shorter 0:44 duration, the finish included blackberry, leather, and a kiss of cinnamon. There was nothing fake about it.

 

Bottle, Bar, or Bust: Many times, brands go out of their way to almost force the intended flavor on you. I was admittedly concerned this would be more like schnapps and less like whiskey. That wasn’t the case with Tennessee Blackberry, and was much appreciated.

 

Mrs. Whiskeyfellow grabbed the glass out of my hand and took a sip. She came to a similar conclusion; there was plenty of whiskey left, and she described it as “nice.” She then said, “This would be good mixed with lemonade.” I kept my mouth shut rather than tell her that Jack Daniel’s already thought of that.

 

Is Tennessee Blackberry decent neat? No. Actually, I thought it was very good. It is hot and humid, and I found it pleasantly refreshing.

 

So, what’s my verdict? I don’t keep many flavored whiskeys in my whiskey library; Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Blackberry has earned its spot and my Bottle rating. 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.