What is whisky?
Whisky is the name of an alcoholic beverage which is produced by the distillation of fermented grain mash. For the production, different grains can be used, including barley, rye, corn and wheat. Whisky is typically matured for several years in oak casks to give it its special aromatic profile.
What is Tennessee Whiskey?
The term Tennessee Whiskey refers to a specific kind of whiskey. In the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) it is stated that a Tennessee Whiskey has to be a straight bourbon whiskey which has to be exclusively produced in Tennessee.
To be regarded as a bourbon whiskey, the spirit has to be produced from at least 51% corn and has to mature in new, charred oak casks. Additionally, there are rules for the alcohol content of the spirit during the production. To be allowed to carry the designation straight, the whiskey has to mature for at least two years.
Almost all Tennessee Whiskeys also go through the Lincoln County Process. During this procedure, the whiskey is pumped through a carbon filter before the maturation. The process was named after the county where Jack Daniels founded his first distillery.
The history of Tennessee Whiskey
Tennessee is one of the most important whiskey production locations in the US not only regarding sales numbers but also regarding history. More than two hundred years ago, many families there began making a living through the cultivation and the selling of corn. It is believed that Scottish and Irish immigrants were the first that began experimenting with the distillation of corn.
During the American civil war, the government passed a temporary whiskey production ban in Tennessee, since both manpower and corn were needed for the war. After the war, however, Tennessee recovered quickly from the prohibition. The second Prohibition hit the state harder. Indeed, in Tennessee, it started already in 1910 ten years before the rest of the country followed. During this time, the production of moonshine started soaring. It took until 1939 before whiskey production continued in Tennessee and many traditional distilleries re-entered the market.
The spelling: whiskey or whisky?
If you are rather new to whisky, you might ask yourself why Tennessee Whiskey is typically written with an e. However, the explanation is simple: US-American whiskey (like Irish whiskey) is always written with an e.
What special Tennessee Whiskey brands are there?
Today, the most popular Tennessee Whiskey brands include Jack Daniels, George Dickel, Benjamin Prichards, TennSouth, Fugitives Spirits and Collier and McKeel.
Tennessee Whiskey at Gustero
Besides hundreds of Irish, Scottish and Canadian whiskey, you will also find an exclusive selection of Tennessee Whiskey in our assortment. Besides popular whiskey by Jack Daniels we also offer a series of premium moonshine whiskeys from Tennessee. Take a look at our assortment now and discover the authentic aroma of Tennessee!
