Jack Daniel's Tennessee Apple

Moving from one flavored whiskey to the next, and though we have a totally different artificial flavor and a new regional whiskey base, my expectations remain low. I'm uncertain how many distilleries produce their flavored spirits, especially whiskey, but mixing an apple liqueur with standard Jack Daniel's seems unusual rather than creating something new. The 70 proof isn't concerning, given that the added liqueur likely doesn't significantly account for the 5% ABV reduction from the standard version, so let's hope it doesn't overpower itself. The hue is a very light golden copper, only slightly paler than regular Jack Daniel's, and still visually appealing for whiskey. The artificial apple aroma is detectable from a distance, and even before approaching the glass, it carries a sticky, excessively sweet character. Upon smelling in the glass, the intensely sweet scent persists, developing into a distinct green apple candy note that leans more sweet than tart, though some tartness is still present. The underlying whiskey is faintly noticeable, but heavily masked, as if the apple liqueur was combined with regular Jack Daniel's that had been diluted by melted ice long ago. The initial mouthfeel is quite thin, yet sufficient for flavors to travel around the palate. The dominant and nearly exclusive flavor of apple (now indistinct and lacking its Granny Smith definition) attempts to lead, but a sort of bitter maltiness contends with it. While this mitigates the intense, syrupy sweetness, it's not the best balancing element, leading to an overall thick texture and a dry finish that feels misplaced, almost as if the signature charcoal filtering somehow became unpleasant. Another miss for a flavored whiskey, though not due to excessive sweetness. This isn't universally true for Jack Daniel's, as their honey expression is by far my preferred honey-flavored whiskey among all American distillers. It's obvious that using actual apples initially would yield a superior product, and perhaps that was attempted, but opting for an apple liqueur and blending was the wrong approach. While it offers a distinct taste compared to apple brandy or vodka, novelty doesn't always equate to a favorable result.

I paid 120 reais for this and found it to be quite complex and very interesting! The base of Jack Daniel's is okay, but let's proceed... The aroma is overwhelmingly apple, with no alcohol scent, just green apple, like a green apple pie, sweet green apple candy; it seems like I'll taste the same, but I don't. On the palate, the apple appears initially, but then a strong woodiness emerges, bringing a natural honey/molasses flavor from the barrel aging of Jack No. 7. There's a hint of a root vegetable like ginger or potato, and some American corn is present. The alcohol stings the mouth a bit; I couldn't achieve an experience where the alcohol didn't interfere somewhat, but adding a little water allowed the whiskey to reveal more apple and smoothness, as it's not that smooth on its own. It's decent in some mixed drinks, but it's a bit cloying for continuous sipping. My rating is 3.9/5, but I'll round up to 4 because the packaging is attractive 🍏

Tennessee Apple was introduced by Jack Daniels in Tennessee in September 2019, with a nationwide release following in October. Like other Lynchburg products, it starts with the standard black label Number 7 and has no age statement. They add apple liqueur, similar to how they did with Winter Jack. This Tennessee Apple liqueur is lighter than Winter Jack's and is bottled at 70 proof, unlike Winter's 30 proof. As someone who generally prefers to drink bourbons and whiskeys in their purest form, I find Tennessee Apple to be a decent flavored whiskey option to keep on hand for a change of pace. The sweet apple scent is dominant, with a faint aroma of oak, and it's mild enough to avoid any harshness. The apple flavor recedes on the palate, allowing the No 7 to temper the sweetness with notes of caramel and toffee characteristic of Jack Daniels. Tennessee Apple remains smooth, with the No 7 taking over on the brief finish.

Review #17 - Liqueur #3 Aroma - The whiskey liqueur is intensely sweet, with prominent notes of ripe yellow apples and pears. However, the fruitiness leans towards overly ripe, mushy apples, which is quite unappealing. Palate - The initial sweetness persists, but shifts towards fresher green apple notes, imparting a slight fizziness. Despite the lower alcohol content of 35%, there's a notable alcohol burn, creating a somewhat unbalanced experience. Finish - Very brief but leaves a slightly slick sensation, adding some texture to an otherwise plain aftertaste. I do not endorse it and certainly wouldn't purchase anything similar again.

The smell is vibrant and succulent, like a red apple. The apple taste is prominent. I thought the green label meant it would be tart, but it's more like a large, sweet, juicy red apple. Perhaps hints of honey and cinnamon are present. It's sweet, warming, and feels like autumn. It would be excellent mixed with apple cider or ginger ale. For me, it's too sweet to drink straight.

Kudos to Jack Daniels for labeling this as an apple liqueur rather than a flavored whiskey, as Crown Royal did. It possesses a flavor very similar to Crown Royal Apple but offers better value. While these liqueurs are primarily intended for mixing, tasting it neat reveals a strong apple Jolly Rancher taste with some bitter notes on the finish.