Tuesday, January 10, 2012

George Dickel Barrel Select Whisky Review:


Approaching this Tennessee whiskey I had an expectation that it would be good. I’m quite a fan of George Dickel Number 12 and with such great quality at such a reasonable price I expected it’s more mature brother to be even better. Not only was I pleased with Dickel Barrel Select, I was pleasantly surprised; something which only happens rarely. Dickel Barrel Select, the distilleries small batch whiskey, only legitimizes George A. Dickel & Co as a distillery worth holding the marker as a true Tennessee whisky.  

To reiterate what makes Dickel unique, especially compared to its close neighbor Jack Daniels, the whisky is double-distilled: first using a column still and second utilizing a pot still. It is then chilled and charcoal mellowed before barreling (i.e. Lincoln County Process). Unlike Jack Daniels, the “other distillery” employs a higher proportion of corn, utilizes proprietary yeast strains and stores the whisky in a single story warehouse. So what about the review?

George Dickel Tennessee Whisky Review:
                                    
Price: Around $39.95 for a 750ml bottle.

Packaging/Labeling: A lovely short and stout bottle with a wooden cork topper. Classy.

Alcoholic Content: 86 Proof, 43% ABV. 

Nose: Nice strong corn nose with caramel, leather, mint and maple oak. Direct and well rounded.

Tasting: Begins with huge corn on the front palette. It hits you aggressively, yet controlled and assertive with a little spice. Some later candy corn notes turn into a wonderful maple syrup and buttery goodness one associates with pancakes. Its medium finish ends with a fresh and minty oak foundation.

Conclusion: Dickel is very much an underrated whiskey from Tennessee and, as the Barrel Select shows us, a hidden treasure. Indeed, Diageo does not even have the brand listed on its site. Yet as much as I love having it all to myself, I hope that sooner or later, it will receive some of its due recognition from its owners. As Jason Pyle says in his Jack Daniels Single Barrel verses Dickel Barrel Select comparison review, "It’s too bad those morons from Diageo continue to treat it like a red headed stepchild, because the whiskey Dickel produces is some of the best in the country for the dollar." I can definitely reiterate that. This whisky is worth much more than its weight in gold - and a great gift, as it was in my case!

8 comments:

  1. This review is spot on. I, too, hope GD starts to get some recognition as I'd take this over JD any day

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    1. Thanks and agreed. The "other distillery" in Tenn should wholeheartedly deserves more recognition. A great product!

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  2. Jack Daniel's can't begin to match any four of George Dickel's products. I kinda like it being our little secret.

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    1. Yeah, I still feel like it's the big secret around town. So many people still don't know much about Dickel and for the time being, I'm ok with that. Slow growth for them. Now only if they would have slowed it down enough and produced their own Tennessee rye.

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  3. The little distillery in Cascade Hollow produces the best whiskey in the Western Hemisphere.

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  4. This stuff should be vilified and scorned, so the price stays cheap!!! To my mind, the best value small batch whisky around.

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    1. We always wish these great whiskies could be kept great secrets, but ultimately, I want it to get recognition. Just slowly, so it can grow sustainably. Cheers!

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