Few and far between are the 40% ABV beverages I try out on this blog. I've said before that I'm not really a whiskey guy, but I am interested in finding out what the allure is. I've tried quite a few moonshines, and I was attracted to those by the fact that most of the ones that you find in stores now add flavors to try and cover up the caustic nature of that style of alcohol. It is my understanding that moonshine is what you start with before you make whiskey. Theoretically, you shouldn't have to add a bunch to a beverage that has a good taste. I say this is a person who recently did a review of a stout that someone stuck in a bourbon barrel that also had maple in it. So, I get that added flavors can enhance an otherwise good or even questionable liquid.
On the advice of a friend, I cooled this beverage before drinking it. The smell is exactly the same as I have found in previous whiskeys, and I could definitely not smell the difference between this whiskey and a moonshine. First sip acts just like any moonshine that has not had flavor added or is just straight whiskey. It might be slightly smoother, but the difference is fairly minimal. In subsequent sips, I can taste the banana that is, apparently, one of the signature flavors of Jack Daniels and a corn sweetness. Aside from that, this seems to be exactly like regular Jack Daniels. Is it smoother? Yes. Is it possible that smoothness is coming from the fact that I chilled this so much before trying it? Also yes. Unlike unflavored moonshine, I can't say that this is overtly offensive. This does have a sort of lighter fluid flavor to it, but it's not assaulting my senses. I may have just had the first whiskey that I don't ask why people drink it.
Bottom Line: Better.
2.25/5
