Tag: Brown-Forman Corporation Page 5 of 8

The Brown-Forman Corporation is one of the largest American-owned companies in the spirits and wine business. Based in Louisville, Kentucky, it manufactures several well known brands throughout the world, including:
Woodford Reserve bourbon whiskey
Jack Daniel’s Tennessee whiskey
BenRiach single malt whisky
GlenDronach single malt whisky
Glenglassaugh single malt whisky
Canadian Mist whisky

In this engaging three-part comparison series, I embark on a journey to dissect two iconic American whiskey giants: Evan Williams vs Jack Daniel’s whiskey.

My exploration commenced with a clash between Jim Beam and Jack Daniel’s Old No. 7, a showdown that divided our preferences. John leaned towards the robust charms of Jim Beam, while I preferred the smoothness of Jack Daniel’s.

Ultimately, the mellow notes of Jack Daniel’s, characterized by its blend of easy-drinking qualities, sweet vanilla, and toasted oak, clinched victory.

Next, on our tasting odyssey, we ventured into a captivating battle between Evan Williams and Jim Beam bourbon. Choosing a favourite between these two proved to be a more intricate challenge. However, the Jim Beam surged ahead. Its slightly heightened complexity and overall drinkability took centre stage, casting a formidable shadow over Evan Williams.

And now, my voyage through the world of American whiskey brings us to the eagerly anticipated Evan Williams vs Jack Daniel’s showdown. These releases share a similar price range and boast global recognition.

Evan Williams Bourbon Whiskey

Evan Williams Kentucky Bourbon Whiskey with glass b

Evan Williams, a distinguished straight bourbon from the Heaven Hill range, traces its origins back to 1783 when Evan Williams commenced bourbon distillation in Kentucky.

Heaven Hill introduced this specific bourbon release to the American market in 1957, and it continues to be distilled at the Bernheim Distillery in Louisville. With an age spanning 5-7 years, Evan Williams’ mash bill comprises 78% corn, 12% malted barley, and 10% rye, retailing for R250 in South Africa.

Jack Daniel’s Old No 7 Whiskey

Jack Daniel's Old No 7 with glass b

On the other side of the ring stands Jack Daniel’s, a legendary Tennessee whiskey that began its journey around 1875 thanks to the vision of Jasper Newton ‘Jack’ Daniel. His innovative Lincoln County process, which involves filtration through sugar maple charcoal before maturation, distinguishes this whiskey as a Tennessee classic.

While the distillery remained in Jack’s family until 1956, it subsequently found a new home with Brown-Forman. Jack Daniel’s Old No. 7 whiskey features a mash bill of 80% corn, 8% rye, and 12% barley, and after charcoal filtration, the new spirit ages for a minimum of 4 years in new charred American oak barrels.

Evan Williams Bourbon vs Jack Daniel’s Whiskey

Evan Williams vs Jack Daniel's Whiskey Comparison

	Evan Williams Bourbon	Jack Daniel's Old no 7
Type	Bourbon Whiskey	Tennessee Whiskey
Mash Bill	78% corn, 12% malted barley and 10% rye	80% corn, 12% barley, and 8% rye
ABV	43%	43%
Colour	Dark reddish gold	Light amber
Nose	While it has the traditional bourbon notes of toasty oak and vanilla on the nose, there is an element of corn syrup floating around. The nose is very one-dimensional and not layered or complex.	Quite sweet with honey, vanilla and toasted oak with a hint of smoke. Dried red fruit and marzipan.
Palate	It offers little complexity. Toasty oak, vanilla and bits of spice. All kinds of rough edges and alcohol notes. It has a light body and mouthfeel. Adding water does little to increase the complexity. It unlocks notes of chilli and bitter orange peel.	Oak and butterscotch sweetness. A hint of sour cherries and cereal. Bits of fruit and loads of vanilla. It is quite an oily whiskey and has a medium body.
Finish	A bit rough and fortunately does not linger too long.	Medium length with some toasty oak, butterscotch and spice.
My Rating	Good	Very Good
Price	$12	$27

To maintain objectivity, we conducted a blind tasting, ensuring our personal biases would not influence the evaluation. Evan Williams bourbon whiskey has notes of toasted oak, vanilla, orange peel, and corn syrup, accompanied by a discernible alcohol burn. It showcases a straightforward profile but lacks complexity.

On the other side, Jack Daniel’s Old No. 7 whiskey offers oak, cherries, and cereal with hints of vanilla. It proves to be a smoother, more easily sippable option, though not exceptionally complex.

Placed side by side, Jack Daniels emerges as the clear standout, boasting a richer sweetness and greater depth on the palate, with cherry and vanilla notes accentuated in comparison to Evan Williams.

Evan Williams embodies the quintessential bourbon character, but I found it one-dimensional with unwelcome raw alcohol notes. Unlike Jack Daniel’s, its sweetness leans towards a corn syrup artificiality. The finish on Evan Williams is notably short and laden with spice.

In contrast, Jack Daniel’s offers an oily, longer finish. In our final verdict, Jack Daniel’s emerges as the more memorable and favoured choice between these two distinguished releases, a testament to its enduring legacy in American whiskey.

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Also Read: Elijah Craig 12 yo vs Evan Williams Bourbon

Glenglassaugh Torfa Whisky

By Jeannette Wentzel

On 09/27/2021

In Single Malt whisky

My third blog post on the Glenglassaugh distillery from the Scottish Highlands. For some reason, I have not liked any whisky from this distillery. Both the Glenglassaugh Revival and the Evolution release I rated as Good. Today I try to finish the last of my mini bottle from this Highland distillery, and it is time for the Glenglassaugh Torfa single malt Scotch whisky.

I found the Revival release drying on the palate, and the Evolution Scotch overly spicy. Both of these had an amazing nose that was rich and complex, with a promise of fruity sweetness. But on tasting them, I was left disappointed. I have to say, I am opening this mini bottle with a bit of trepidation.

The Glenglassaugh distillery sits on a hillside, on the Moray Firth coast overlooking the North Sea. James Moir and two of his nephews established the distillery in 1875. He chose the site due to its proximity to a clean water supply, the Glassaugh Springs and easy access to the nearby barley fields.

It changed hands a few times but continued to produce whisky. However, during the economic downturn of 1986, this small remote distillery stopped production. It was mothballed and all but forgotten.

In 2008, the Dutch-based Scaent Group acquired the distillery for £5 million and reopened it. In 2013 Billy Walker and the BenRiach Whisky Company purchased it. BenRiach is a subsidiary of the Brown-Forman Corporation.

Glenglassaugh Torfa single malt Scotch was released in 2014 and refer to the Old Norse word for turf or peat. It has been matured in ex-bourbon barrels and peated to 20 ppm.

Torfa has no age statement and has a natural colour, and is non-chill-filtered. In SA, it retails for around R670.

Also Read: Mackmyra Svensk Rok Whisky

Glenglassaugh Torfa Whisky Review

REGION: Highland

ABV: 50%

COLOUR: Yellow gold.

NOSE: Rich earthy peat, smoke and custard sweetness in equal measures. Hints of cold ocean breeze and warming pepper spices. Wood smoke and a gentle fruit note in the background; just a lovely nose.

PALATE<: Warming earthy peat, drying ash and smoke. It has quite an alcohol bite. Letting it breathe for a while allows a mellow, fruity note to appear with hints of sour cherries. Earthy moss with hints of sea salt and honey drizzled over red apples. Light pepper and ginger notes with a medium body.

However, adding a few drops of water changes the Torfa. The water brings out more pepper spice and lemon peel bitterness and mutes the complexity. After the water, it has the same overwhelming pepper notes that I found in Revival and Evolution whisky releases.

FINISH: Medium length that, before water, lingers with peat and honey and hints of liquorice. After adding some water, it is all lemon pepper and pectin.

RATING: VERY GOOD

This Glenglassaugh Torfa whisky poses a predicament. If you let it stand long enough for the worst of the alcohol to float away, it is elegant and drinkable without water. The moment you add the water, the spicy notes overwhelm everything else, and you are left with bitter pectin, which is not ideal.

This one would be my favourite of the three releases, but I would hesitate to buy more bottles from this distillery. Just like Dalmore and Highland Park, the distillery flavour profile just does not suit my tastes. If you like more spicy drams, this will be perfect.

However, I would rather spend some time with Brown Forman’s other Scottish Highland whisky, Glendronach, which has a much sweeter taste profile.

Also Read: Millstone 8 yo French Oak Whisky

Jim Beam vs Jack Daniel’s Whiskey

By Jeannette Wentzel

On 06/14/2021

In Whisky Comparison

This week, my side-by-side comparison is two high-volume brands against each other; Jim Beam bourbon vs Jack Daniel’s Tennessee whiskey. Both are from large commercial distilleries, and between these two brands, they command quite a bit of bottle space. They are in a similar price category and are both known globally.

However, Jim Beam and Jack Daniel’s are distinctly different in several ways. Jim Beam is a straight bourbon whiskey made in Kentucky, while Jack Daniel’s is a whiskey distilled in Tennessee.

But what happens when you put them side by side in a taste test?

Jim Beam Bourbon Whiskey

Jim Beam Bourbon White with glass
Jim Beam Kentucky Straight whiskey is one of the best selling brands of bourbon in the world. In 1795 a group of German farming immigrants founded Jim Beam. Jacob Beam noticed how fertile the Kentucky region was for cereal farming, and he grew corn and grains, which he eventually used in his whiskey.

He began selling it under the name of Old Jake Beam, and in 1820 his son David began managing the distillery at just 18 years old. The distillery and brand grew from strength to strength. In 2014, Suntory Holdings bought Jim Beam to create Beam Suntory.

The Beam Suntory bourbon portfolio includes Makers Mark and Knob Creek. The whisky portfolio includes Yamazaki, Laphroaig and Bowmore and a few more.

The Jim Beam White Label bourbon is distilled at lower temperatures and aged for 4 years in newly charred American oak. The mash bill is 75% corn, 13% rye, and 12% barley. I have also done a comparison between this bourbon and the Evan Williams bourbon and you can read all about it by following the link.

Jack Daniel’s Old No 7 Tennessee whiskey

Jack Daniel's Old No 7 with glass b
Love it or hate it, you will find Jack Daniel’s all around the world! Jasper Newton ‘Jack’ Daniel’s started the Jack Daniel’s distillery around 1875 in Moore County, Tennessee. Jack Daniel developed the Lincoln County process.

This is where the whiskey is filtrated through sugar maple charcoal before maturation. This process is of crucial importance to the finished whiskey’s character. Whiskey from the Jack Daniel’s distillery is bottled as Tennessee whiskey.

The distillery remained in Jack’s family until 1956. It was sold to Brown Forman, a Kentucky distilling company. The Jack Daniels’ brand of Tennessee whiskey has become the highest-selling American whiskey in the world.

The Jack Daniel’s Old No 7 whiskey has a mashbill of 80% corn, 8% rye, and 12% barley. After the charcoal filtration, the new spirit is aged for at least 4 years in new charred American oak.

I paired this bourbon with some KFC to see how it would work. See which bourbon paired best with the fried chicken. I have also done a side-by-side comparison between the Old No 7 and Gentleman Jack to see how big the difference is.

Jim Beam vs Jack Daniel’s Whiskey

Comparison: Jim Beam vs Jack Daniel's Whiskey

	Jim Beam Bourbon	Jack Daniel's Old no 7
Type	Bourbon Whiskey	Tennessee Whiskey
Mash Bill	5% corn, 13% rye, 12% malted barley	80% corn, 12% barley, and 8% rye
ABV	43%	43%
Colour	Golden Mahogany	Light amber
Nose	Subtle vanilla, spice, pine forests, toasted oak and lemon zest with hints of toffee. Sticky pudding and caramelized fruit.	Quite sweet with honey, vanilla and toasted oak with a hint of smoke. Dried red fruit and marzipan.
Palate	Spicy with toasted oak and mint freshness. Hints of dry paper and pepper. A faint hint of vanilla. Water brings more citrus and pepper It has a light body and is not very complex.	Oak and butterscotch sweetness. A hint of sour cherries and cereal. Bits of fruit and loads of vanilla. It is quite an oily whiskey and has a medium body.
Finish	Long and dry with citrus and pepper.	Medium length with some toasty oak, butterscotch and spice.
My Rating	Very Good	Very Good
Comments	A bit bland. Great inoffensive for cocktails.	Not very complex, easy-drinking and comforting. It is a very mellow and smooth whiskey.
Price	$15	$20

The Jim Beam Kentucky bourbon whiskey has notes of pine forest, toasted oak, vanilla, and lemon pepper. It is quite spicy with not many sweet notes. It is also a bit cheaper than Jack Daniel’s whiskey. The Jim Beam makes for quite a light drinking experience, and I found it a bit bland.

The Jack Daniel’s Old No 7 whiskey has more butterscotch sweetness, vanilla notes, marzipan, and toasted oak. Again, it is not the most complex dram but more memorable than the Jim Beam. The Jack Daniel’s also has an oily note that helps to capture the sweetness.

I have a sweet palate, so Jack wins hands down. John enjoyed the more spicy notes of the Jim Beam bourbon, but in the end, the mellow note of the Jack won him over.

So in my book, the Jack Daniel’s whiskey easily takes the crown for the best between these two.

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Last but not least, I did a side by side comparison between the Evan Williams and the Jack Daniels to see how they stack up against each other.

Glenglassaugh Evolution Whisky

By Jeannette Wentzel

On 03/08/2021

In Single Malt whisky

Earlier in 2020, I started exploring whisky from the Glenglassaugh distillery. The first whisky I tried was the first release of the series, the Revival release. It’s named to celebrate the reopening and revival of the distillery. Today it is time for the second release in the series, the Glenglassaugh Evolution single malt Scotch whisky.

Col. James Moir founded the Glenglassaugh distillery in 1875. He ran the distillery with his two nephews until 1892, when Highland Distillers sold Glenglassaugh. The distillery had periods of being closed, and then in 1960 was completely re-built.

Glenglaussagh distillery mainly produced whisky for blends, including Cutty Sark and the Famous Grouse. The distillery continued to produce whisky until 1986, when it was mothballed.

Also Read: Whisky rating system

On the lookout for a Scottish distillery to buy, Scaent Company acquired this Highland distillery in 2008. The intention was to bring this distillery fully backs to life. They restarted production and upgraded some of the processes. In 2013, the BenRiach Distillery

Company acquired the Glenglassaugh distillery, and they continued to build upon the work done by Scaent.

Torfa followed Glenglaussaugh Evolution, and there are various Limited Editions also available. The Evolution release is a NAS whisky matured in a unique combination ex-Tennessee first-fill whiskey barrels. It has a natural colour and is non-chill-filtered.

Glenglassaugh Evolution Whisky Review

REGION: Highland

ABV: 50%

COLOUR: Crisp gold

NOSE: Delicious sweetness with white grapes, green grass, cinnamon and vanilla. Warming and inviting. A bit of alcohol on the nose, and it needs to stand for a bit to breathe. The nose is lovely and promises many delights.

PALATE: White pepper and dry oak with hints of malt. Only later does some of the fruitiness come through. Some alcohol heat. The sweetness promised by the nose has disappeared. There are hints of lemon rind, which softens with the addition of a bit of water. The water softens the alcohol and pepper heat but does not bring any more sweetness. Medium body with not a lot of complexity.

FINISH: Lemon pepper and dry oak.

RATING: GOOD

I could not finish my glass. The pepper is just too overwhelming on the palate and the finish. The nose was delicious and promised all kinds of pleasures, but the promised sweetness did not appear.

Looking back at the Glenglassaugh Revival release I tasted a year ago, my tasting notes were pretty similar for that release, just to peppery. I might only try the Torfa release next year at this rate.

Also Read: Maraska ABC Whisky

GlenDronach Parliament 21 year old Whisky

By Jeannette Wentzel

On 02/08/2021

In Single Malt whisky

I found a whisky called after the collective noun for a group of rooks; a Parliament, the GlenDronach Parliament 21 year old single malt Scotch whisky. It can only have an unique story. Nestled in the valley of Forgue, deep in the East Highland hills, a Parliament of Rooks guards a warehouse.

In this warehouse, ex-Sherry casks slowly take their time maturing the golden liquid within.A syndicate headed by James Allardes founded the GlenDronach distillery in 1826.

The distillery opened and closed various times and at one time or another, was owned by many of the well-known players in the market including Chivas, the Grant Family and Teachers and Sons.

In 2008, BenRiach’s owners purchased the distillery. April 2016 saw the Brown-Forman Corporation purchase GlenDronach. The deal included BenRiach and Glenglassaugh distilleries.

GlenDronach is known for long maturation periods in sherry casks. The GlenDronach 21 yo is no exception as it was aged in a combination of Spanish Pedro Ximénez and Oloroso casks from Andalucía. The core collection includes a 12 year old, 15 year old, 18 year old, and even a peated expression.

Last year, the GlenDronach 18 yo whisky was one of the best drams I tried during the year. It will be interesting to see if how the additional time in the sherry casks matures the whisky.

Also Read: My Top 5 Whisky Food Pairings

GlenDronach Parliament 21 year old Whisky Review

REGION: Highlands

ABV: 48%

COLOUR: Polished amber

NOSE: Red fruit sweetness, creamy oak with bits of dark roasted coffee, an underlying ginger note mixed with bits of vanilla and orange. Delicious and rich inviting you to savour slowly.

PALATE: Full-bodied and with a big mouthfeel, there are notes of bold sherry, dry oak, chocolate-covered cherries, red berries, cinnamon and pepper. In the background is the subdued sweetness of honey. A bit of alcohol heat. Quite spicy. A few drops of water softens the alcohol heat, but bring more pepper spice to the front. It is a thick and oily dram. It is complex with many layers.

FINISH: Long and lingering with notes of dry wood and lemon pepper.

RATING: EXCELLENT

It is delicious, but not an easy-drinking whisky. Not for novices as it is bold and complicated. The GlenDronach Parliament 21 year old whisky demands the focus befitting of its age, and for me, it is a drink to enjoy on a special occasion. It is not just something to sip at the end of a hard day.

John loved the pepper bite in the end, I found the pepper and oak a bit overwhelming and far more pronounced than in the 18 yo release. I enjoyed the 18 year old release far more and found it softer and better balanced. In South Africa, the GlenDronach 21 year old Parliament single malt whisky retails for about R2 500.

I have done a side by side comparison between the Parliament release and the GlenDronach 18 year old whisky to see how they rate next to each other.

Also Read:Boplaas Single Grain Whisky