George Dickel No. 8

This is the kind of error that happens when you’re in a hurry. Typically, when I visit Jersey for vacation, I enjoy a few activities, including relaxing on the beach while my kids play, reading extensively at the beach house, and strolling the boardwalk at night with sweets. A key part of this is crossing the bridge to the Circle Liquors in Sommers Point to buy some bottles to take back to Pennsylvania. You see, Pennsylvania is a state-controlled liquor market, meaning the inventory is quite uniform across the entire state. Some items are consistently available, while others are never stocked. The benefit is that prices are usually at or slightly above suggested retail, but the drawback is the lack of variety. This is why I always seek out liquor stores in different locations when I travel, to find those bottles I’ve heard about and always wanted to try but can never find at home. So, why the rush? My wife and children accompanied me this time. My wife wanted to select some white wine, and my kids, aged ten and seven, were constantly squabbling and posed a risk of knocking bottles off shelves. After my wife chose her wines and took them to the car, I had about ten minutes to browse the whiskey selection before her patience with the kids in the car wore thin. I generally know what I’m looking for. For instance, I love New Riff. While Pennsylvania has New Riff BiB Rye and Bourbon, as well as Single Barrels of both, they don’t carry the 6 Year Malted Rye, so I selected that. Next, at Circle Liquors, they had Barrell bottles. Pennsylvania typically only stocks Dovetail, but this store had more, and I wanted Vantage, so my second pick was Barrell Vantage. My third choice was a bottle of Kilchoman Sanaig to satisfy my Islay craving. Kilchoman is not available in Pennsylvania, and though they also had Machir Bay, a year prior, a friend sent me a bottle of Machir Bay Cask Strength, making Machir Bay seem like a step backward. Hence, Sanaig. Then I saw a single barrel Knob Creek Bourbon, 9.5 years old and 120 proof. Pennsylvania carries these, but they cost up to $70. Here, the bottle was on sale for $50, and I adore Knob Creek, so I bought it. That left me with maybe two minutes. I was scanning quickly. Honestly, there were perhaps two dozen bottles I desired, but I noticed a George Dickel BiB 13 Year. My wife brought one back from Nashville two months ago, and it’s already finished because it might be one of the finest bourbons under $50 I’ve ever had, so I grabbed that. With a minute to spare, I saw this bottle next to it and took it. Now, those of you with wives and children will understand. Sometimes you feel rushed, and in haste, you don’t always make the best choices. To elaborate, Dickel offers this, the original recipe 8, which is a 6-year bourbon. They also have a George Dickel 8-Year Bourbon that is actually aged 8 years. I intended to get the 8-year bourbon, but in my haste, I mistakenly grabbed the recipe 8. We crossed back over the bridge to go grocery shopping at Acme, and as I reviewed my receipt, I saw the price next to this bottle was $24.99. Walking through the aisles, I immediately realized my error. It wasn’t that I was unaware of both Dickel bottles existing; I simply didn’t take enough time to actually examine the label on the bottle I picked up. I was a bit disappointed, mainly because the 8-year is usually only about $8 more and is considered quite decent at its price point. The Dickel 8, make no mistake, is a beginner’s spirit. It’s an 80-proof bourbon. Can I tell you how long it’s been since I opened an 80-proof whiskey? It’s just not something I typically reach for anymore. The last starter bourbon I reviewed was Old Forester 86, and that was disappointing, primarily because it was my initial choice when I began my whiskey journey. The Dickel 8 carries no such history, but I still didn’t taste it neat first. I actually made a whiskey and soda with it, and the resulting drink essentially tasted like ginger ale. So, tasting it neat now for this review, I had a positive initial impression as a mixer, which, once you’ve reached a certain stage in what we call our whiskey journey, is precisely what this is intended for. When tasted neat, this isn’t bad and pairs well with the cookies we just bought from the boardwalk before a thunderstorm rolled in (we got back just as it truly started pouring). The aroma offers cracked pepper, vanilla, and creamed corn. The palate delivers a touch of caramel, vanilla, and corn. And as has been mentioned repeatedly, the element that distinguishes this from, say, Jim Beam, Evan Williams, or Ezra Brooks is the note of barrel char on the finish. All in all, I don’t regret my mistake, considering I generally don’t open the bottles I purchase down here until I get home, and if I do open one, a mixer seems fitting for a week of rest and relaxation. Would I have preferred to focus, pay attention, and select the bottle I intended to? Absolutely. But I appreciate Dickel. I enjoy their work. It’s amusing; you always hear about that Flintstone Vitamin flavor in it, but I’ve sampled the Dickel Rye, the BiB, and the 8, and I have yet to encounter anything resembling the artificial cherry taste of Flintstones vitamins (and I’m an expert on this; in case you missed it, I have a 7 and a 10-year-old who both take a Flintstone daily). Furthermore, I really like their bottle design. So, credit where it’s due. It’s challenging to assign a rating to this as a neat whiskey in comparison, as it’s far from the best I’ve had, but it seems unfair to rate it 2.5 or lower. Let’s settle on 2.75. I believe that’s where I placed the Old Forester 86, and this is comparable. As a beginner bourbon, you could find worse options.

Trying a sample of a younger Dickel – George Dickel No. 8. It makes me wish I had a bottle of No. 12 for a direct comparison. It's non-age-stated but reportedly aged between 5 to 7 years. Mash Bill: 84% Corn, 8% Rye, 8% Malted Barley (Standard Dickel Mash Bill) ABV: 40% Price: $16.99 Nose: Light, sweet corn. Green apple. Malty oak. A subtle hint of black licorice is present; it might be the sugar, char, and minerality combining to create that effect, but I can't un-smell it. Palate: Tart green apple with a tiny bit of salt initially, followed by honey sweetness (similar to the small packets of honey with takeout orders), malty vanilla oak, char, and minerals. The tannins seem poised to emerge strongly but curiously soften before they become overpowering. I still detect faint black licorice again. Finish: Sweet and warming, with a significant minerality that lingers. My username might suggest a habit of licking rocks (I don't), but if you did, the finish might evoke that sensation. I much prefer this dram to the prominent Tennessee whiskey that overshadows it. It offers good value for money, though the finish is a bit unconventional. 3.0 ~ 75 ~ Average

Purchased for $21.99 for a fifth at Total Wine in Albuquerque. The color is amber with a reddish hue at the edges, and the legs form and run quickly, spaced far apart. It is 80 proof, with a mash bill of 84% corn, 8% rye, and 8% malted barley. First, I tried it straight from the bottle. The aroma was fruity, with apples and something else I couldn't place. When I put my nose deep into the glass I got apples and vanilla, caramel, and very faint oak. There was almost no alcohol burn. The flavor was spicy fruit and caramel, with oak emerging, and a butterscotch note. The finish was medium, offering oak with a little spice. This whisky loses much when you add a splash of water or let it sit for a few minutes, and while I made notes on those portions of the tasting, the only way this spirit is truly worth drinking is right from the bottle. But in that state, it is good. This isn't a very intricate whisky, but it's vastly superior to Jack Daniel's, and has rekindled my faith in Tennessee whisky.

This whiskey is entirely acceptable. My experience with this brand started with the 13 year bottled-in-bond, followed by the 8 year bourbon, the bottling known as Barrell Select, and multiple 15 year expressions in recent years. I had, however, never sampled the original number 8 or 12. In my continuous effort to keep purchases under fifty dollars, I encountered the recently rebranded "original recipe" and decided to buy it. It's a solid 80 proof bourbon. It leaves no negative impression on the taste buds or the bank account, offering a pleasant sweetness with sufficient oak and char to keep things engaging. While not exceptional, it could join my collection of affordable favorites, alongside Wild Turkey 101 (which is no longer as economical as it once was), Old Forester Signature, and Buffalo Trace when available.

The nose presents vanilla bean, followed by corn notes and a hint of peanut. I've been noticing a lot of peanut in bourbons lately; I'm unsure if it's a genuine flavor or if my taste buds are off. The taste is mild corn that is quickly overpowered by charred oak. There's just a trace of spicy orange peel and potpourri, another flavor I keep detecting. A little heat is present on the middle of the tongue, but it's quite manageable. A single drop of water causes everything to open up beautifully. The finish consists of molasses, vanilla bean, and that charred wood; you can almost discern each individual speck of ash. The char is the defining element here.

Having enjoyed the 12-year expression, I wanted to try this one. Sometimes, an 80-proof option is desirable to avoid overconsumption. This fits that need. While not as refined as the 12, it's a solid choice in the lower-proof category, comparable to WT81. I won't repeat the tasting notes as they closely resemble the 12, but with less flavor intensity and a bit more char. For the price, it's a decent whisky, though the 12 offers better value. This is best for when you intentionally choose a lower proof. It's recommended and suitable for beginners as well. 74/100.