Tennessee Whiskies
Tennessee whiskey is made up of some famous brands out there. There are several regulations one has to adhere to before they qualify for that title of Tennessee whiskey. Here are some of those rules, and how some of them came to be.
For a whiskey to be called a bourbon, it has to meet several requirements. It is expected to be distilled from mash made from at least 51{8a111b8e87d2217e89ca18cf9006e3f7691622cb9f11e03b1e2f936e3486f2aa} corn, aged in new charred oak barrels, nothing reused, distilled under 160 proof and barreled above 125 proof. It also needs to be above 80 proof before bottling. The whiskey must have been made in the US to earn that title.
Most bourbon in the US comes from Kentucky. This comes off as one of the requirements, and so Tennessee whiskey is excluded from that category. But Tennessee whiskey plays by those rules, and even adds another one. There is a directive existing in Tennessee where each distillery needs to use the Lincoln County Process to ensure what they make can be called a Tennessee whiskey. In this process, the distilled whiskey shall pass through a charcoal filter before barreling. This filtering process is done differently by each distillery. It shall result in a more mellow flavor of the whiskey. You can expect Tennessee whiskey to have a burn not as harsh as the others. Tennessee whiskey is also to be aged in Tennessee.
Jack Daniels makes up for one of the most famous Tennessee whiskey brands out there. The distillery has been active for over 150 years. The brand has also grown in prominence due to its association with pop culture figures and events all this time. You will also hear of George Dickel, the next most famous Tennessee whiskey brand. Another one is Popcorn Sutton. You will discover more Tennessee whiskey brands as you keep looking.
These distilleries are also in the business of offering tours to interested parties. You will get to observe their whiskey making processes. You will also get a chance to taste some of the lesser known brands there. You need to make plans to go for these beautiful tours, even when you are far.
There are some controversies surrounding the Tennessee whiskey liquor law. The other distilleries say that those laws are made to favor Jack Daniels at their expense. They feel they cannot keep up in an environment that suits the needs of Jack Daniels better.
You will find that the international whiskey world looks down upon Tennessee whiskey, even Jack Daniels. This however, should not change your mind when you feel you need to taste some of it. You can also give it out there as a gift. You may learn more about enjoying it on this site.