Jack Daniel's Gentleman Jack

Edited: 5/08/2024 My tasting notes are always from drinking it neat. This is what I'd describe as a gentle whiskey. It's not just about the alcohol level, which doesn't always tell the whole story, but it possesses all the necessary qualities like a smooth, thin, and light mouthfeel with hardly any burn and a subtle finish. Regardless of how much you drink, it becomes much better with a little air and swirling. It's like liquid candy, allowing for extended relaxation without significant issues. I'm so accustomed to the taste of Black Jack as a mixer; this was a genuinely pleasant shock. Black Jack usually goes into our Christmas Punch and/or Egg Nog annually, but fortunately, I opted for this modest improvement instead. Besides neat, I enjoy it in Old Fashioneds and other Bourbon cocktails, and I'll even use it for the 'color' in my standard Bar/Restaurant judging beverage, the Long Island Iced Tea. Around $36 in PA. A 1.75L costs $65 here, which means about $20 in savings when you account for the extra 0.25L. It's a clear choice for a very decent sipper and mixer that lacks the typical Old No. 7 flavor. The bottle also looks fantastic, LOL!

Review #14 - Whisk(e)y #10 Nose - subtle, with primary scents of vanilla, honey, and possibly some light caramel, plus oak and a touch of banana. Palate - vanilla notes, some caramel, mild spice, oaky wood character, perhaps honey, and banana again. It's smooth, uncomplicated, light, soft, not remarkable, but enjoyable. Finish - brief, possibly moderate in length, with vanilla and a hint of spice. I do suggest it; it's a very smooth, pleasant drink for less than 30 euros... and notably superior to the original, though perhaps not as complex or deep as another one I recall. Rating System: 5.0 - Perfect 4.5 - Exceptional 4.0 - Very Good 3.5 - Good 3.0 - Decent 2.5 - Average 2.0 - Below Average 1.5 - Barely Drinkable 1.0 - Undrinkable 0.5 - JB

The positive aspect of this first impression: I've recently been captivated by banana bread notes in whiskies. Thus, I felt compelled to try this. From that angle, it offers a delicate banana bread scent on both the nose and palate. However, the primary reason for lowering the rating is that it was excessively smooth. I prefer my whisk(e)y to possess at least a mild bite. The extreme smoothness of Gentleman Jack brought to mind my college days when I'd opt for a Mike's Hard Lemonade. I continued to sip it because it was so smooth, and I didn't realize I was getting tipsy until I suddenly felt a buzz. In my opinion, this is in no way an improvement over the original, but rather quite inferior.

A remarkably sweet whiskey. The double mellowing process clearly works effectively, as I'm not fond of the original but enjoy this. The aroma resembles homemade mom's dessert, but with significantly more brown sugar, baking spices, banana, and a trace of coconut. On the palate, it mirrors the nose, though the baking spices become more prominent with a slightly peppery finish. The brown sugar note persists strongly. Ideal for desserts and meats with a sweet, mustard-based marinade.

Gentleman Jack is too much of a gentleman, tasting lighter than the original Jack Daniels #7. The aroma is charred oak, sweet maple, and banana pudding. The entry is smooth with flavors of charred oak, sweet maple, and banana pudding. There is a finish of pipe tobacco and baking spice. Gentleman Jack is too sweet and tastes like a watered-down Jack Daniels #7.

It still has Old No.7's harsh quality which I thought was awful when I tried it, only it's less intense and more hidden by a woodier foundation and traces of red fruit, cherry, and sherry or port wine on both the aroma and taste. The tartness, though, reappears with coke, still leading to a completely uncertain overall feeling.