Can a Little Dickel Beat a Large Jack?
Written: Jul 25 '04 (Updated Jun 01 '05)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Complex; Excellent sipping whiskey
Cons: Price is a little higher; Hard to find
The Bottom Line: This is a fine example of the Tennessee whiskey style; complex and delicious served by itself on the rocks, allowing the great flavors to shine through.
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| Bryan_Carey's Full Review: George Dickel No. 12 Tennessee Whiskey |
Tennessee whiskey is a special breed of liquor known for its smoothness and for its easy- sipping qualities. This style of whisky sets itself apart from Kentucky bourbon and other whiskies by its charcoal filtering and other unique manufacturing processes, leading to a final product is less harsh than many other whiskies produced in the U.S. and in different parts of the world.
When most people think of whiskey distilled in the state of Tennessee, the first name that comes to mind is Jack Daniels, an institution among whiskey distilleries. But there is another distillery in Tennessee that also produces some finely crafted whiskey that many feel is every bit as good as cousin Jack’s. It’s George Dickel Original #12 Tennessee Sippin’ Whisky, a product produced at the main distillery located close to the city of Tullahoma, about one hour from Nashville.
Basic Characteristics of This Whiskey:
George Dickel has an appearance that is similar to most whiskey. The color of this whiskey is tan, with a clear body indicating that the product is well- filtered. The aroma of this whiskey combines sensations of toasted grains, wood, and a little bit of vanilla and perhaps almond, with a pungent smell of alcohol that brings the senses to a complete state of attention.
Tasted straight from the bottle, this whiskey is grainy, with the tastes of charcoal, vanilla, and slightly burnt caramel. I could even taste what seemed like a dash of honey. The finish of the product is semi- harsh, with an ending that is very dry, long, and woody, leaving an aftertaste that is pleasantly grainy and wood- like.
George Dickel manufactures this whiskey using corn, barley, rye, and pure spring water from a local source close to the distillery, with no preservatives or additives. The process used at George Dickel calls for double- distilling and filtering through sugar maple charcoal. The final product is then aged in white oak barrels for twelve years and it has an alcoholic strength of 45 percent (90 proof).
Drinks Made with This Liquor:
George Dickel #12 Whiskey can be used in most drinks that call for whiskey. Here is a sample of some drinks you can make with this liquor:
Whiskey Sour
1 oz. George Dickel #12
2 oz. Sweet and Sour mix
1 Maraschino cherry
An old favorite, this drink is made by pouring each of the above ingredients into a rocks glass filled with ice.
Whiskey Highball
2 oz. George Dickel #12
Club Soda
Add ice to highball glass, then add the whiskey and top off with club soda. Ginger ale can be substituted for the club soda.
Tennessee
2 oz. George Dickel #12
1 oz. Maraschino liqueur
1 oz. Lemon juice
Shake with ice and strain into a cocktail glass.
Tennessee Manhattan
1.5 oz. George Dickel #12
.25 oz. sweet vermouth
Dash of bitters
Shake with ice and strain into a cocktail glass. Add a maraschino cherry for a garnish
New Yorker
2 oz. George Dickel #12
1 oz. Lemon juice
.5 teaspoon Grenadine syrup
1 teaspoon sugar syrup
Shake with ice and strain into a cocktail glass and add a twist of lemon
Brown Derby Cocktail
2 oz. George Dickel #12
.5 oz. Grapefruit juice
.5 oz. Honey
Shake with ice and strain into a cocktail glass
Mint Julep
3 oz. George Dickel #12
1 teaspoon sugar
Mint leaves
Dissolve sugar in a small amount of water and add to a tall glass containing about six crushed mint leaves. Add whiskey and ice and garnish with one mint sprig
Stiff Dickel
2 oz. George Dickel #12
1 oz. Lime juice
1 oz. Triple Sec
Shake with ice and strain into cocktail glass
Final Thoughts:
George Dickel #12 is a fine Tennessee whiskey product with some excellent flavor attributes of charcoal, grains, oak, and other taste sensations. Often compared to Jack Daniels- the chief competitor for this style of whiskey- George Dickel sets itself apart from Jack Daniels with its additional aging; changes in temperature during the charcoal mellowing process; and other slight altercations in the distilling process, making George Dickel an unique product all its own.
When I first tasted this whiskey, I decided to try it straight- right from the bottle. I knew this would make it harsher than normal, but I like to sample most products this way at first, to get a feel for what the product is like in its most raw form. And George Dickel #12, while it does taste a little harsh when served this way, is still rather smooth compared to most other whiskies and bourbons.
Served over ice, this whiskey is smoother and more drinkable, just like expected. Some people prefer to mix their whiskey with a fifty/fifty mixture of water first, to remove some of the edge. I like it served over ice and allowed to sit for just a few minutes, both to cool it off and to allow some of the ice to melt and mix with the whiskey. This seems to be sufficient, for my tastes, because it mellows the taste out with some water but not too much, and the coldness makes for a nice sipping drink.
George Dickel #12 can be served in most any drink that calls for whiskey but one needs to keep in mind that not all whiskey drinks taste best with Tennessee- style whiskey. Some taste better if bourbon is used and some are best made with Scotch whiskey. Many bartenders will interchange these different types of whiskey in different drinks based on customer preferences. But I think certain drinks are better with a specific type of whiskey. As good as George Dickel tastes, there are some drinks that do not seem right with this whiskey as an ingredient. However, in my opinion, George Dickel #12 is better tasting and more interchangeable than most. I can add this whiskey to mixed drinks like, say, a whiskey sour to produce a beverage that is richer and more satisfying than with other, cheaper whiskey products. But truth be told, this is really a sipping whiskey, designed for those who like to sip and enjoy the rich complexity of this product and feel the warm, long, woody finish unfold as each small sip is consumed.
George Dickel #12 retails for about $16 per 750 ml bottle, but this price varies considerably from one location to the next, depending on the taxes and regulations that exist in different locales. It costs about the same as Jack Daniels and it costs a little more than George Dickel’s other product, referred to as #8. This price is not the least expensive on the market, but it’s not really that bad when you consider the quality you get for the money you spend.
This product has received some noteworthy praise from whiskey critics. It earned a Gold Medal in 2002 from the Beverage Tasting Institute, beating out such competitors as Jack Daniels, Wild Turkey (101 proof), Seagrams, Labrot & Graham, and other fine products. When George Dickel won this award, it received a score of 93 points out of a possible 100 from this prestigious organization, proving that it is every bit as good as many of the world’s finest, including products that are more widely recognizable, like that "other" Tennessee whiskey.
Certain things have changed in the world of whiskey since George Dickel produced his first barrel of whiskey back in 1870. But one thing that hasn’t changed is the basic recipe for George Dickel whiskey products. Dickel’s legend lives on in a new distillery and a new group of professionals dedicated to producing whiskey that lives up to Mr. Dickel’s high standards. Master distiller J. David Backus has kept the tradition alive, producing George Dickel Original #12 Tennessee Sippin’ Whisky using the same quality standards that have been handed down through the years. It is a fine example of the Tennessee style; complex, great- tasting and smooth enough to make it an enjoyable whiskey to sip and savor slowly, one small amount at a time.
Be Sure to Click on the Links Below to Read More Reviews of Other Liquors:
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Recommended:
Yes
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