There’s an old debate between experts, wine dealers, and simple fans of the popular liquor: Is Jack Daniel’s bourbon? Finding the answer really isn’t as easy as you may think, as a lot of the argument is based on opinion.
One side doesn’t really have an advantage over the other. The differences between bourbon and Tennessee Whiskey (which is what Jack Daniel’s calls itself) can be rather technical.
Let’s explore this topic in more depth and see if we can find an answer, one way or the other.
Well, Is Jack Daniel’s Bourbon?
It depends on who you ask. In the simplest of terms, Jack Daniel’s is technically bourbon. Don’t let them hear you saying that though — they’ll deny it to high heaven. They prefer to call themselves Tennessee Whiskey, and surprisingly enough, they wouldn’t be lying either.
The debate rages on because neither side is wrong. It’s like the argument over whether it’s spelled catsup or ketchup, the answer depends entirely on your point of view.
There are actual legal definitions for both bourbon and Tennessee Whiskey. Jack Daniel’s meets the criteria for both. Whether people use one term over the other is largely only a matter of advertising and promotion.
What Exactly Is Bourbon Whiskey?
Bourbon Whiskey is a liquor distilled from corn mash and aged in oak barrels. The origin for the name is largely unclear, though many believe it was inspired by places which share the same title.
Among them are Bourbon Street from New Orleans, and Bourbon County in Kentucky, which ultimately take their name from the French Bourbon Dynasty.
There are several legal requirements for liquor to be classified as Bourbon Whiskey, if they only really apply to drinks sold and consumed in the US.
Most foreign sales for bourbon don’t need to follow these rules, although many at the very least require that the drink be made in America.
As per the Federal Standards of Identity for Distilled Spirits, under 27 CFR §5.22(b)(1)(i) to be legally considered Bourbon Whiskey, it must be:
- No greater than 160° US proof, or 80% alcohol by volume
- Distilled from a fermented grain mash of corn, rye, wheat, barley, and malted barley, or malted rye grain. The percentage of corn in the mix must be at least 51% of the mash
- It must be barreled when it is no greater than 125° US proof, or 62.5 % alcohol
- The barrels must be new and made from charred oak
- Like all other whiskeys, bottled at no less than 80° proof or 40% alcohol by volume
- It must be a product of the United States
As long as the product meets these requirements, they can be considered as bourbon.
What Is Tennessee Whiskey?
What seems to be fueling the “Is Jack Daniel’s bourbon debate” is the way that it markets itself. As far the company is concerned, Jack Daniel’s is a Tennessee Whiskey. It’s in their ads, promotions, and on the actual product itself. You’d be hard pressed to find the word bourbon anywhere on a bottle of Jack Daniel’s.
Tennessee Whiskey itself has its own legal classification, at least as far as the State is concerned. It instituted State House Bill 1804 that details Tennessee Whiskey as an intoxicating liquor that is:
- Manufactured in the State of Tennessee
- Made of a grain mixture that consists of 51% corn
- Distilled to no more than 160° proof or 80% alcohol
- Aged in newly made, charred oak barrels in Tennessee
- Filtered using maple charcoal prior to aging
- Placed in a barrel at no more than 125° proof or 62.5% alcohol by volume
On the Federal Level, trade agreements like the NAFTA or North American Free Trade Agreement recognize it as a Distinctive Product as per Annex 313.
So, What’s the Difference?
If you notice, there isn’t much of a difference between the legal requirements of bourbon and Tennessee Whiskey. In fact, if not for the filtering process, and the requirement that it be produced in the state, they’re practically the same. These details are what fuel the “is Jack Daniel’s bourbon” debate.
NAFTA rules themselves refer to Tennessee Whiskey as straight Bourbon Whiskey. The straight classification referring to whiskeys that are distilled to a concentration that doesn’t exceed 160° US proof or 80% alcohol by volume.
You can technically look at Tennessee Whiskey as filtered bourbon. Many still disagree and say that the extra process distinguishes one from the other. If you think about it though, it’s just a matter of semantics.
Not all bourbon can be called Tennessee Whiskey, but you can easily say that all Tennessee Whiskey can legally be called bourbon, whether it wants to be called that or not.
What’s in a Name?
Most people don’t really care when someone asks if Jack Daniel’s is bourbon. They don’t think it matters if Jack Daniel’s is one kind of liquor or another, in fact, not many know that the debate even exists.
Truth be told, the naming convention is mainly important in terms of trade. The regulations are there to make sure that products that are sold as either Tennessee Whiskey or bourbon are as what’s advertised. How the products themselves want to be called is of no concern to those that made the law.
Jack Daniel’s is free to label itself as Tennessee Whiskey if it wants to. It surely meets the requirements as per its own patented process.
If it chose to label itself as straight bourbon it would have been fine as well. Their way of distilling liquor is well within the conditions needed to meet the legal definition.
It really is a matter of promotion, and no one can say that Jack Daniel’s isn’t proud of its Tennessee roots. No matter what name it calls itself though, it doesn’t affect the fact that its brand makes very fine alcohol.
An Unending Argument
It seems more than likely that as long as Jack Daniel’s makes its product somebody, somewhere is going to argue about what it really is.
Although Jack Daniel’s insists that it’s not bourbon, you can’t really stop anyone from taking the contrarian stance.
So, if while drinking a glass of that fine liquor you’ve ever thought to yourself, “Is Jack Daniel’s bourbon?” don’t fret. You aren’t the first to ask, and more than likely, you won’t be the last.