SMF

For lack of a better expression, yes.

It was purely because I thought this thread had taken a dark turn that I had a healthy pour of Four Roses Small Batch last night.

Purely for the thread, you see.

Araner wrote:Scotch is ruled out! I’m speechless.

Well, not really speechless; my goodness man, you’re missing out on the best things in life.

Try a bottle of BenRiach 12 year old single malt scotch “Sherry Matured”. It’ll make the holiday season all the better.

Regards,
Mike

like starting a thread saying "can anyone recommend a great cigar, but please, no Cubans."

I wouldn't rule Scotch out but I don't think it's at the top of the pyramid either. Most of it is very ordinary stuff that couldn't tug at the hem of the garment of Four Roses Small Batch.

Ofcourse not, bourbon is the bees knees on a US-centric forum, who would have thought!

Bourbon is a distinctly Southern drink. I don't think it enjoys the same pedestal in most of the country. It is closely associated with Kentucky distillers. Jack Daniels, for instance, a popular "bourbon" produced in Tennessee, is actually "Tennessee whiskey." I would imagine that vodka is, by far, the most popular distilled spirit in the US.

Kyle76 wrote:Bourbon is a distinctly Southern drink. I don't think it enjoys the same pedestal in most of the country. It is closely associated with Kentucky distillers. Jack Daniels, for instance, a popular "bourbon" produced in Tennessee, is actually "Tennessee whiskey." I would imagine that vodka is, by far, the most popular distilled spirit in the US.

Now this is interesting. Do people actually confuse JD, or Tennessee whiskey in general, with bourbon? Perhaps it's my regional bias but I've never encountered this problem.

Good question, Mike. I feel like many people view them as virtually the same, but maybe I'm wrong. I'm not from Kentucky or Tennessee.

in my experience Bourbon has a distinct flavor as opposed to whiskeys such as Jack Daniels. I prefer the whiskey as opposed to the Bourbons even though they may be the same thing. I had some rather bad experiences with bourbon in my youth.

I believe Jack Daniels is perceived as a Bourbon worldwide and I wouldn't argue the point.

Squire wrote:I believe Jack Daniels is perceived as a Bourbon worldwide and I wouldn't argue the point.

That's my impression too.
Although to my taste they are different, many drinkers tend to lump them together.
Both are great for sipping, as is a good Irish.
For reasons similar to Squire's can no longer tolerate Scotch or Single Malts. A pity,
I know.

Yes, the taste is different, the excessive filtering makes for a lighter flavor profile which a lot of people apparently like because JD Black has passed Johnnie Walker Red as the largest selling whisky in the World.

maskaggs wrote:Now this is interesting. Do people actually confuse JD, or Tennessee whiskey in general, with bourbon? Perhaps it's my regional bias but I've never encountered this problem.

perhaps that is because..

Although the product generally meets the regulatory criteria for classification as a straight bourbon, the company disavows this classification and markets it simply as Tennessee whiskey rather than as Tennessee bourbon

maybe I have no idea, but JD tastes like bourbon to me, no matter what else you want to label it as.

JD can be legally labeled as a Bourbon. Tennessee Whisky is a marketing term created a long time back to imply a difference that doesn't really exist.

The ONLY difference between Tennessee whiskey and bourbon is the fact that the whiskey goes through a charcoal filter process. This is not done to bourbons. it is called the Lincoln county process.

That's about it, though the Lincoln County process was not developed to improve the new make whisky, rather as a jump start on aging.

Good information, all.

Another tidbit, JD is owned by the Kentucky Distiller Brown-Forman who also make Old Forester and Woodford.

My thirst for knowledge is leaving me thirsty for some good sippin' whiskey.

Pursue the matter avidly and you may be filled with knowledge.