Black Label Whiskey Vs Jack Daniels

Jack Daniel’s Whiskey is the best-selling American whiskey, and Johnnie Walker is the best-selling Scotch whiskey in the world. Both whiskey brands bear the names of their founders (Jasper Newton “Jack” Daniel and John “Johnnie” Walker) and are among the 100 best brands in the world, with Jack Daniel in 78th place and Johnnie Walker 92.

1. Jack Black Label
2. Http://www.johnniewalker.com

Jack Daniel's Black Label (also known as Old No. 7 or more commonly as JD or simply Jack) is one of the best selling whiskeys in the world. It is the signature brand that defines Tennessee whiskey and is easily distinguishable from every other whiskey produced today.

• Overall, the Jack Daniels Old No. 7 and the Johnnie Walker Black Label, both have their respective strengths, and drawbacks, although when it comes to making an educated choice, we would opt for the Jack Daniels Old No.
• Jack Daniel's Black Label Tennessee Whiskey remains the flagship product of Brown–Forman Corporation. During the fiscal year ended April 30, 2017, the product had sales of 12.5 million cases. Underlying net sales for the Jack Daniel's brand grew by 3% (−1% on a reported basis). clarification needed.

Between the two whiskey brands, Johnnie Walker is simply a superior spirit with amazing tasting notes. The range of quality and price range is extensive and the quality of the finer Johnnie Walkers are simply as top-shelf as it gets.

The Main Differences Between Jack Daniels vs Johnnie Walker

The main differences between Jack Daniels vs Johnnie Walker are:

• Jack Daniels is an American Whiskey, whereas Johnnie Walker is a Scotch whiskey.
• Jack Daniels is a traditional Tennesee sour mash whiskey, whereas Johnnie Walker is an expensive scotch whiskey.
• Jack Daniels has to be aged at least 4 years to 7 years, whereas Johnnie Walker is aged 12 years.

Comparison Chart

Johnnie Walker Whiskeys

Johnnie Walker is one of the great names in Scotch whiskey and has an impressive portfolio of widely available bottles that will appeal to all whiskey lovers.

The range is extensive, starting with a practical selection of whiskey worthy of any cocktail and bringing full luxury bottles, designed to be sipped and tasted. This range is a series of color-coded labels and has transformed in recent years, like the amazing tasting notes of Johnnie Walker Black Label

A Mixed Scotch For All Tastes And All Budgets

Founded in 1820 by Johnnie Walker, it is one of the iconic brands of Scottish whiskey. The whiskey blended portfolio includes Labels ranging from affordable to super-premium, offering consumers the choice of knowing that any label of their choice will be a quality product.

Understanding Johnnie Walker’s Portfolio

What distinguishes one Johnnie Walker’s Label from the other is the color of the Label? Each is a different blend of aged whiskey for a certain period, the most expensive being the oldest.

This can be a little confusing at the bar. It is not unusual for a drinker to be surprised by the note because he has mistakenly asked for one of the more expensive Johnnie Walkers.

Try to remember this sequence. These are in order from lowest to highest cost:

1. Red Label
2. Black Label
3. Double black
4. Gold Label reserve
5. Platinum label
6. Blue label

Let’s examine each of these labels.

Johnnie Walker Red Label

At the bottom of the portfolio, Red Label is a Scotch that everyone can afford. Johnnie Walker’s portfolio begins with the ever trusted Red Label. This whiskey can be found in almost every bar in the world. It is the cheapest Scottish whiskey and is ideal for mixing cocktails.

Formerly known as Old Highland Extra Special Whiskey, it was christened “Red Label” in 1909.

• A mixture of 30 young single malt and cereals whiskeys.
• A sweet and spicy aroma and robust smoke with a warm finish.
• 40% alcohol by volume (80 Proof)

The Black Label Johnnie Walker

If you are a fan of Red Label, you’ll surely love Black Label. Another step forward on the Johnnie Walker color wheel makes the difference. Black Label is a complex and surprisingly pleasant Scottish whiskey. This is what we recommend to make a great Scottish cocktail, such as Rob Roy or Rusty Nail. It’s also good by itself.

Made with about 40 single malt and wheat whiskeys for at least 12 years, Black Label is an excellent introduction to the taste of Scottish whiskey, as it has a right balance of candy and peat. It’s an elegant Scotch at a reasonable price and a reliable whiskey that can be easily found in any bar.

The Key to Successful Whiskey

Johnnie Walker is among the most famous in the Scottish world. The square glass and colorful labels that distinguish complex mixes and flavors have combined over the years to make this Scotch whiskey one of the best sellers in the world.

The key to Johnnie Walker’s success is a well-managed blend, and Black Label is a great artistic example of a good whiskey blend at a reasonable price. In 1820, John Walker began blending whiskey, and in 1909 his son Alexander took the family business to a higher level by re-launching an old recipe under a new, more straightforward name: Black Label.

A Delicious Scotch

Can you call a scotch delicious? Many believe this is permissible. It’s as if Willy Wonka had gotten his hand’son Scottish whiskey, adding bits of candy, a hint of smoke and a delicious mix of indescribable flavors.

The Johnnie Walker Black Label is the most complex in the portfolio and includes about 40 whiskeys. Most are a single malt, and some are exclusively produced for this particular blend. The blended whiskeys represent the great variety of Scottish regions, from the mellow lowland malt to the robust island’s malts and the ember-like Islay malts.

The problem with many scotch drinks is that they can be very turbid (or smoky). That’s why a Scottish whiskey such as Black Label adds wheat whiskey to the mix. This softens the experience of Scottish peat, making the whiskey softer and more drinkable.

For those who like a balance between peat and sweet, Black Label is an excellent place to start. This balance also lends itself to excellent Scottish cocktails, such as the classic Affinity. In Robert Burns, there is a fascinating war between peat anise takes place, and the black Label Johnnie Walker is one option to the most appropriate opponents of all Scotch whiskeys.

Aromatic Notes

Each of the characteristics of the Scottish distillery is known on the Black Label. The taste is sweet and fruity, with a hint of peat. This gives a sensual taste of hot beans and oak, with hints of vanilla and butter. It ends up half dry and maintains a sufficiently balanced smoke to allow the taste buds to desire more.

About Johnnie Walker Black Label

• Scottish whiskey blend consisting of about 40 malt and wheat whiskeys, each of which is at least 12 years old.
• Originally known as “Old Highland Whiskey Walker.”
• Created in 1820 and relaunched in 1909
• Blended, Distilled and Bottled in Scotland by John Walker & Sons, Kilmarnock, Scotland
• Imported from Diageo North America
• 40% alcohol by volume (80 proof)

Johnnie Walker Double Black

With the body and the complexity, Double Black remains delicious. What began as a limited edition in 2011 has become a permanent feature of Johnnie Walker’s portfolio and a reason to celebrate for Scotch whiskey lovers.

Similar to Black Label, but possesses a richer and more intense aroma, it is a masterpiece of mixed whiskey. If you liked the introduction of tobacco in Black Label, Double Black would be the next ideal step to improve your Scotch taste.

The full-body flavor of the Double Black is exceptionally complex and includes a fascinating blend of vanilla smoke and dried fruit. The blend’s in the whiskeys are selected from the Walker House’s Smoked Whiskey Pool, and some have been aged in “burnt oak barrels”.

Again, it’s an excellent whiskey for mixing simple cocktails. If you drink alone, do yourself a favor and add distilled water to really improve your flavor profile.

• 40% alcohol by volume (80 proof)

Johnnie Walker Double Black Review

Johnnie Walker Double Black was originally a limited-edition Scotch whiskey, offering a sophisticated, bold and classic aromatic profile that will surely please you. For a fan of whiskey looking for a world-class bottle at a reasonable price, look no further. Johnnie Walker Double Black is the answer.

Johnnie Walker Double Black was created by Blender Master Jim Beveridge to complete Johnnie Walker’s current line-up. The result is a masterpiece. A blend of naturally smoked aged whiskey and specially selected whiskeys, aged in heavily burned casks; the nose offers rich aromas of peat, vanilla, orange jelly, and caramel.

The Body And The Palate

Johnnie Walker Double Black is rich and delicious, a delight for the senses. On the palate, under a layer of smoky peat, there are notes of Christmas fruit cake, plum pudding, orange peel, and vanilla, creating a memorable and delicious whiskey.

The Johnnie Walker Double Black offers a surprisingly agile finish. Light fruit notes begin to appear, think of crispy apples, Bartlett fresh pears, vanilla rolls, and candied ginger before paving the way to cinnamon and orange. The finish is long, persistent and satisfying. It is simply a world-class whiskey and essential for any well-stocked bar.

Johnnie Walker Gold Label Reserve

Now everyone can try the gold Label. The renewal of the portfolio was completed in 2014 with the planned launch of Gold Label Reserve. Previously available only in duty-free markets, it has become readily available and is a permanent feature of the brand line.

This Label is a blend of 15 whiskeys selected by Master Mixer Jim Beveridge and includes Clynelish Malt Whisky. It is a very simple bottle and welcome addition to the Johnnie Walker family.

Aromatic notes

The Gold Label reserve is soft and sweet, from a fragrance characterized by fruits, flowers, and dense caramel. The sweetness continues on the tongue and presents notes of vanilla and cream enhanced by delicious honey. This whiskey finishes long and strong, with light smoke and sweet and woody fruit. It’s a Scotch that everyone can enjoy.

• Try it as a Gold cocktail.
• 40% alcohol by volume (80 proof)

Johnnie Walker Platinum Label

If you can afford the cost, Platinum Label is a Scotch whiskey you won’t want to miss tasting. This is Johnnie Walker’s current portfolio, which is entering the Scottish luxury realm and was a welcome addition in 2013. If you like gold or green labels, get ready to be overwhelmed by the Platinum label.

The art of whiskey blending is well presented on this Label, hitherto reserved for private tastings and exclusive events. The doors have opened, and we can all now enjoy this full Scottish whiskey, a mix of simple whiskeys and malts of at least 18 years old.

Master Mixer Jim Beveridge created this whiskey from selected casks of only 20 to 25 distilleries and created a magnificent Scotch whiskey. Imagine a whiskey with a touch of Speyside sweetness and a hint of smoke and peat from Islay, add some fruit and produced the Platinum label.

Drinking Platinum Label

Don’t bother to add anything to this whiskey except a drop of water or an ice ball for a very slow melting. It is spectacular in itself and deserves to be appreciated as a well-designed liquid that, let’s say, rivals the blue Label.

Because of its considerable age, its price is reasonable and worth every dollar.

• 40% alcohol by volume (80 proof)

Johnnie Walker Blue Label

Do not mistakenly ask for the blue Label on the bar; it will cost you. The Blue Label, Johnnie Walker’s portfolio, is this Scotch whiskey that many of us rarely taste, and which is usually very special. It is a luxury, and several other drinks can have a four or five-star meal, such as a Blue Label drink.

It’s beautiful, it’s an experience, and it’s one of the best spirits you’ll find. The blue Label is full of rare whiskeys, many of which have now disappeared. Johnnie Walker declares that “only one barrel in ten thousand has the quality required to achieve this mixture”. It is characterized by a sweet sherry, honey, and vanilla, contrasting with an intense mass of dark chocolate.

We tried it, and we know it’s true: Johnnie Walker suggests that the best way to take advantage of the Blue Label label is to “chill the palate with a glass of ice water” and then drink (no more than 1 1/2 ounces) of a glass.

• 40-43% alcohol by volume (80-86 proof)

Blue Label Review

Johnnie Walker is among the most famous brands in the world of Scottish blended whiskeys. Each brand has its color, from red to black, from green to golden. Johnnie Walker Scotch Whisky, when wrapped in a Blue Label, is at the top of the range.

Each Johnnie Walker Blue Label bottle comes in a box lined with silk, with a certificate of authenticity and a unique serial number. Luxury, exclusivity, and quality are implicit in the presentation, and the content of this bottle does not disappoint.

Nose

On the nose, Johnnie Walker Blue Label offers a bouquet of floral notes, mainly of dried lavender, roses and buds. Skin notes, raisins, lemon zest, Seville orange, and pipe tobacco appear over time.

The Body And The Palate

The Johnnie Walker Blue Label is a rich, full-bodied whiskey that covers your mouth. The accents of plum, tobacco, cedar shingles and caramel are at the forefront of this whiskey. As they caressed the palate, an orange jelly, rose petals and brown sugar flavors fall behind a soft smoke.

Finally, the blue Johnnie Walker brand offers what every super-premium Scotch whiskey needs: complexity and elegance. High smoke notes seem to erase previous fruit notes of the palate with more notes of cedar and tea spice at the end. It’s a long and persistent finish that true whiskey lovers will find immensely satisfying.

The Johnnie Walker blue label is an expensive whiskey. It’s a whiskey for special occasions that offers exactly what you expect from whiskey of this caliber and price – a memorable experience.

The Johnnie Walker Blue Label is among the best Scotch whiskeys in the world and is highly recommended.

Johnnie Walker Green Label

Green Label fans can take a trip to get it. When Johnnie Walker’s portfolio was renewed in 2013, Green Label was pulled out of the US market. According to reports, it will continue to focus on the most popular market, Taiwan. The green Label is a mix of four selected malts, at least 15 years old, “all over Scotland”. Extremely sweet and often described as sweet, it also has hints of dried fruits.

Scotch Whisky Mingles With Andrew Ford Of Johnnie Walker

Scotch whiskeys produced by Johnnie Walker are emblematic of the world of blended whiskeys. We had the opportunity to attend an online tasting seminar with master blender Andrew Ford.

This experience opened our eyes to the different styles of whiskey used to create these fantastic mixes and left us with a deep appreciation of the art of mixing.

It All Began With A Single Malts

It was surprising to take samples of each type of malt representing the different regions of Scotland. We started with a light grain whiskey and simple sweet malt before heading to the very smoky island and the Islay malt.

At the end of the test, it’s our turn to blend. Our Scotch blends were much more successful than our attempt to produce delicious Canadian whiskeys, although we do not know if we could get a very bad mix of samples with which we had to work.

Our Customized Scottish Blends

Jack Black Label

Among those we tried, our combination of 2 parts of Speyside and 1 part of Lowland malt quickly became one of the favorites. We had sweet, fruity and smoked elements while gravitating. Near our unique malt blend, Ford recommended trying a more common Scottish recipe. This whiskey contains 50% whiskey, the rest being a blend of sherry, low altitude malt, and Islay.

Are we closer to the black Label Johnnie Walker? Not at all. With the samples provided, it would be impossible, as about 40 whiskeys make up this distinctive blend and, of course, Master Blender will not give up any of its Scotch recipes. It is surprising to think that these mixers can continually produce the same different characteristics, using as many whiskeys in batches of Scotch casks, with an average capacity of 250,000 liters at a time. Now, that’s an art form.

The Johnnie Walker Cocktail

While some of Johnnie Walker’s offerings are better for direct consumption and fun, don’t hesitate to mix some of these whiskeys into cocktails. We would stick to the red, Double black and black labels for mixed drinks. If you’re feeling good in life, consider the Gold or Platinum labels, both of which will probably be one of the best Scotch cocktails you’ll ever have.

Jack Daniels

Tennessee whiskey is one of the most well-known whiskeys in the world. The style is unique, and only a few Tennessee distilleries produce it. The famous Jack Daniels brand, which produces some of the best whiskey bottles available in Tennessee, dominates this limited market. However, from this unique brand, you will find a number of fantastic whiskey bottles that you will want to collect and try yourself.

The Black Label Old No. 7 By Jack Daniels

If you want to get a hint of the Lincoln County process that distinguishes Tennessee whiskey from the rest, take a look at Old No. 7. Nicknamed “JD” by its loyal fans, the Black Label is the iconic Jack Daniel whiskey presented on the shelves around the world. This is the bottle of whiskey that almost everyone knows and loves, and that is essential to the real Lynchburg lemonade.

Jack Daniel’s does not include a declaration of age in this bottle. Instead, the distillery states that whiskey “Is only ready when our tasters say it”. Bottled at 40% ABV (80 proofs), it offers excellent vanilla and delicious flavors to create an instantly recognizable taste.

Gentleman Jack

If Black Label is Tennessee’s iconic whiskey, Gentleman Jack is his older brother, more sophisticated and refined. Initially launched in 1988, Gentleman Jack is the first new bottling brand produced in decades.

The whiskey used to make Gentleman Jack comes from barrels that rest on the lower levels of the old house. Its most characteristic feature is that, instead of softening the coal once, Gentleman Jack slowly crosses through the sugar maple charcoal twice. The result is a delicious and sophisticated whiskey, bottled at 40% ABV (proof 80).

Jack Daniel Rye Whiskey

Handmade with 70% rye cereals, Jack Daniel’s rye is not technically a Tennessee whiskey, as it does not meet the 51% corn required by law. That’s why it’s labeled “Tennessee Rye Whiskey”. However, this is a fantastic whiskey made in Tennessee and utilizing Jack Daniel’s carbon-softening process. You will not find this rye whiskey like anywhere else.

Because of this unique process, this rye is complex and spicy, although it has the characteristic taste of Jack Daniel. Slightly aggressive than the original whiskey, this rye is bottled at 45% ABV (90% proof). It has a bold figure that is unforgettable and can stand any rye or whiskey cocktail.

Single Barrel Select Jack Daniels

A shot from Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel collection is the perfect choice for whiskey lovers. The first, Single Barrel Select, was introduced in 1997.

The selected casks are aged on the upper floors of the aging house, where a drastic temperature improves the taste of the whiskey. With 47% ABV (94 proof), it’s a daring whiskey that works well with or without ice. At every sip, you’ll enjoy a wide range of shiny fruits, sweet caramel, and quick spices. Single Barrel is a delightful surprise for whiskey lovers. It’s also a great way to showcase Tennessee bourbon whiskey.

Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel Rye

Jack Daniel’s does not disappoint rye drinkers with his Single Barrel collection. If you like regular brand rye whiskeys, we recommend you try single barrel rye.

It has the same grain of 70%, but with an extra level of finesse that everyone can appreciate. This big and bold rye contains 94 proof (47 percent ABV) and contains complex notes of ripe fruit and roasted oak for a delicious taste that does not overwhelm the taste buds.

Jack Daniel’s Barrel Proof

To taste the whiskey directly from the barrel, you may want to look for the Jack Daniel Barrel Single barrel proof. It is both intense and sweet at the same time, bringing the classic flavor of malt to bold new levels. Bottled between 125 and 140 proof (between 62.5 and 66% of the ABV), this bottle has a special impact. After the first taste, just to see what it looks like, add ice to soften, and it will open the flavors of this whiskey.

Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel Proof 100

Http://www.johnniewalker.com

To have access to this drink, you will have to go an extra mile to find a JD Single Barrel 100 proof, as it is only sold at duty-free airports around the world. However, it is worth it because it offers depth and flavor that will impress all whiskey lovers. It’s also a new experience every time you notice subtle differences in each bottle.

Sinatra Select, By Jack Daniel

It seems that Frank Sinatra was a big fan of Jack Daniels, and the bottle bearing the Sinatra Select label is just as sweet. Aged in what the distillery calls “Sinatra casks”, the barrel wires are marked by deep grooves that allow more whiskeys to touch the oak.

This added to the fact that it is 45% ABV (90 proof), adds a significant new dimension to the characteristic aroma of whiskey. It is often described as “delicious” because of its caramelized notes and will allow you to enjoy a light smoke that cannot be found in any other JD bottle.

Jack Daniels Green Label

Green Label has always been a faction classic among Jack Daniel fans and is particularly popular with hunters. The green Label, a younger, lighter version of the original whiskey, contains a sample of 80 proof (40% ABV) and is transferred from old whiskeys to the lower floors of the old house.

This is an elusive bottle, only available in some US states. There are also frequent rumors that it was suspended, but it remains a favorite among whiskey collectors.

Note that some online stores will mark this glass dramatically overpriced, and it is not uncommon to find it available for around $100. Although it is difficult to find, this price is very difficult to justify for this whiskey. If you are open to paying for it, indulge yourself and choose a single barrel or Sinatra Select.

Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Honey

Jack Daniel’s produces whiskey with a technically alive aroma, which is also quite impressive. Tennessee Fire is an excellent choice of cinnamon, and Winter Jack uses apple cider liqueur for a tasty surprise during the cold season. However, Tennessee Honey is a favorite among drinkers and waiters.

The sweet taste of honey liquor mixed with whiskey characteristic of the distillery creates an incredible drink. It is a fantastic mixer that offers the sweet taste of real honey, which can enrich any cocktail and is delicious alone. Bottled at 35% ABV (70 proof) and available at an affordable price, it’s an excellent addition to any bar.

How To Drink Jack Daniels

• On the rock
• Straight
• With little water.
• With soda
• With ginger ale

The Production And Mixing Process

Jack Daniels

Tennessee whiskey is at least 51% corn; It is filtered on maple charcoal in large wooden vats before being aged in new charred oak barrels. This process gives a distinct aroma. Jack Daniel’s has been traditionally bottled for 90 proofs (45% alcohol by volume).

Johnnie Walker

Johnnie Walker offers different mixtures, identified by the color of the Label:

• Black Label: A blend of approximately 40 whiskeys each aged 12 years or more. 80 proof (40% ABV).
• Gold label: a mix of more than 15 single malts, usually bottled at 15 or 18 years old. 80 proof (40% ABV).
• Green Label: A rich blend using only malt from all over Scotland: each malt whiskey is at least 15 years old.
• Blue Label: Johnnie Walker premium mix. Each bottle is numbered in series and sold in a box lined with silk, sealed with a license of authenticity. There is no specified age declaration for Blue Label. 80 proof (40% ABV). This is one luxury drink bottles for $200.
• Red Label: A blend of about 35 grain and malt whiskeys. It is intended for the preparation of cocktails. 80 proof (40% ABV). It was Winston Churchill’s favorite Scotch whiskey and former Vice President Dick Cheney.
• Red & Cola: a premix and Red Label cola sold in cans and bottles resembling beer.
• Johnnie Walker Swing: This bottle has a unique shape that allows it to swing back and forth.

Brand and Label

• The Label of Jack Daniel was authenticated in the early 1960s. At that time, Lynchburg had only 361 people; This is the number that is always mentioned on the Label. The slogan is “Every day we will do our best”.

• In 1908, the iconic Striding Man logo for Johnnie Walker was created under the slogan “Born in 1820 – Always Strong!”. The motto has been changed to “Keep on walking”. The Johnnie Walker label is angled and slanted at 24 degrees. It was designed by Alexander Walker, who thought he could insert a bigger text on the Label and highlight it on the shelves.

FAQ’s

Jack Daniels Tennessee Black Label Whiskey does not contain carbohydrates (sugar or starch), gluten, fat or cholesterol because they are removed during distillation. An ounce of Jack Daniel’s liquid contains about 65 calories.

Jack Daniel’s is not a bourbon; it’s a Tennessee whiskey. Jack Daniels drops slowly, drop by drop, through three meters of well-packed charcoal (made of hard sugar) before entering new barrels of burnt oak to ripen. This unique process gives Jack Daniels Tennessee whiskey its rarity. It’s this extra passage, the sweetness of coal that makes Jack Daniels a Tennessee whiskey

The Jack Daniels Green label is a lighter, less mature whiskey, with a lighter color and character. The barrels selected for the Green Label tend to be on the lower floors and towards the center of the stockroom, where the whiskey tends to matures more slowly.

Conclusion

Making the most of these whiskeys depends entirely on your taste buds: the two whiskeys have very different profiles. Both are pretty sweet, but I would give Johnnie Walker an edge. Jack Daniel is cheaper, of course, but when you buy Johnny Walker, you are paying for a really high-quality scotch whiskey.

But one is Scotch and the other bourbon. I have a tendency for Scotch, but many bourbon lovers will disagree with my choice. Happy drinking!

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Price-wise, Jack Daniel’s is the least expensive of the three well-known whiskey brands. At just approximately $22 per 700 ml bottle, it is slightly cheaper than Crown Royal which comes at about $25 per 750 ml bottle, but much more affordable than Jim Beam which costs around $30 per 750 ml bottle. All three have 80-proof, or 40-percent alcohol by volume (ABV), contents.

But aside from by how much you can buy them and by how much alcohol you can get per bottle, how you would choose which of the three is best depends on what type of whiskey you are partial to. Crown Royal is a blended Canadian whiskey, Jim Beam is a bourbon whiskey, and Jack Daniel’s is a Tennessee whiskey. To a connoisseur in spirits, these are three very distinct types of whiskeys.

“Blended whiskey,” as defined under federal guidelines, is a mixture which contains straight whiskey or a blend of straight whiskeys at not less than 20-percent on a proof gallon basis, and, separately or in combination, other whiskey or neutral spirits. Now, the term “straight whiskey” refers to whiskey that (1) has been distilled to not more than 80-percent ABV, (2) has been aged for at least two years at a starting alcohol concentration of not more than 62.5-percent, and (3) has not been blended with any other spirits, colorings, or additives. A “bourbon whiskey” is whiskey made from a grain mixture with at least 51-percent corn content, while a “Tennessee whiskey” is a straight bourbon whiskey that has additionally undergone a special filtering process involving steeping the whiskey through a layer of maple charcoal to improve the flavor.

Crown Royal

Crown Royal is a brand of blended Canadian whiskey that is now owned by London-based Dageo PLC, the world’s largest producer of spirits. It has a rich heritage, having been originally created as a gift for King George VI and Queen Elizabeth to commemorate their 1939 visit to Canada. Presently, Crown Royal is the number one best-selling Canadian whiskey in the American market.

The brand now carries ten commercial variants, namely the flagship original Crown Royal, Crown Royal Black, Crown Royal Reserve, Crown Royal XR, Crown Royal Maple Finished, Crown Royal XO, Crown Royal Regal Apple, Crown Royal Northern Harvest Rye, Crown Royal Hand-Selected Barrel, and Crown Royal Monarch 75th Anniversary Blend.

Crown Royal is sometimes touted as “a blend of 50 distinct, full bodied whiskies matured in white oak barrels…” Of course, the ages of the various whiskies used in each blend range widely from the relatively young to the relatively well-aged. Additionally, the distillates of various grains, including corn, rye, wheat and barley, are aged in a large variety of oak casks, including those previously used for aging bourbon whiskey back when the company was still owned by Sagram. As expected, each particular distillate, when matured, will also yield a distinctive spirit. All these factors go into the preparation of a blend for a Crown Royal label for a particular batch. For instance, Crown Royal XR, introduced in 2006, was made from a blend which includes the last batches of whiskey distilled at the now-closed Waterloo and Lasalle distilleries. For another, there is Crown Royal Hand-Selected Barrel, introduced May 2015, which was made from a single barrel rye that is being produced from the brand’s Coffey rye still.

Jim Beam

Jim Beam is a brand of bourbon whiskey owned and produced by Beam Suntory. Claimed to be “made using a secret recipe for more than 200 years,” it is one of the world’s leading made-in-Kentucky whiskey brand. Many now consider Jim Beam part of the American tradition.

Under federal law, all straight bourbon must be made of a grain mix of at least 51-percent corn; distilled at no higher than 160-proof or 80-percent ABV; free of any additives other than water; aged in new, charred white oak barrels; entered into the aging barrels at no higher than 125-proof or 62.5-percent ABV, aged for a minimum of 2 years; and finally, bottled at no less than 80-proof or 40-percent ABV. Jim Beam whiskey products are aged for at least four years, twice as long as government’s minimum requirement. Additionally, it uses a special strain of yeast for the fermentation process that dates back to the Prohibition era.

Jim Beam straight bourbon whiskey comes in six variants: the flagship Jim Beam White, aged 4 years, 80-proof; the charcoal-filtered Jim Beam Choice, aged 5 years, 80-proof; the 90-proof Jim Beam Devil’s Cut, aged 6 years, uses extracted bourbon reclaimed from the walls of the cask after pouring; Jim Beam Seven Year, aged 7 years, 80-proof; the 86-proof Jim Beam Black, aged 8 years; and the 100-proof Jim Beam Bonded, aged 4 years. The brand now also offers a number of special labels of craft whiskey, straight rye whiskey, single-barrel bourbon whiskey, a “white whiskey,” its own version of blended whiskey, and flavored 70-proof liqueurs. Additionally, Jim Beam conducts a guided tour, the”Kentucky Bourbon Trail,” that is a popular landmark destination for tourists in Louisville, Kentucky.

Jack Daniel’s

Jack Daniel’s is a brand of Tennessee whiskey that is owned and produced by the Brown-Foreman Corporation. Distilled at the historic Jack Daniel Distillery in Lynchburg, Tennessee, Jack Daniel’s is considered the top selling American whiskey in the world. It is one of just four recognized Tennessee whiskey brands, the other three being George Dickel, Collier and McKeel, and Benjamin Prichard’s.

What distinguishes Tennessee whiskey from straight bourbon whiskey is the introduction of “mellowing,” an additional step in the production process. Known as the “Lincoln County Process,” because it originated in Lincoln County, the whiskey is filtered first through sugar maple charcoal chips or pellets before being transferred to the wooden casks for aging. The filtration, aside from removing impurities, also gives the Tennessee whiskey the smoother taste which distinguishes it from regular bourbon whiskey.

Jack Daniel’s comes in 11 distinct variants: the original and flagship Black Label, Gentleman Jack, Single Barrel, Tennessee Honey, Tennessee Fire, Green Label, Silver Select, Winter Jack, No. 27 Gold, Sinatra Select, and Sinatra Century.