Jack Daniels and the vegetables

In the depths of the vegetable cupboard


I've had an imposter lurking in the dark recesses of the vegetable cupboard for a while: Jack Daniels Old No.7. Several months ago, I removed the wrapper and had a sniff. Then I put it back amongst the vegetables, wondering why I'd bought it.

Owing to various misfortunes and a curious liability that I possess to buy the same whiskies again, a small space has opened up in the whisky cupboard and Jack was moved in to fill it.

Given that Jack is now blocking the way to the Better Stuff, I thought I'd better try it, worrying that Coke would be required as a mixer.

Well... that's not quite the case. It's surprisingly palatable stuff, albeit its hidden behind a rather curious nose that's resemblant of the Mississippi coast after the Deepwater Horizon disaster. 

The taste is pretty well-rounded, albeit again a bit oily, chewy and something approaching caramelly. Toffee perhaps; or even a bit of toast, as is usual for such tastings. The finish continues the toffee/caramel theme and whilst it lacks the subtlety of some - well most - Scotches, it's nevertheless a pleasant, vanilla-ey, sort of experience, if only on the basis of its rumbustiousness. 

Overall, not an unpleasant experience by any means. Yes, it's different, but it's worth the occasional visit. I've tasted worse, for sure, but whilst most malts are judged on a certain scale, this exists in a slightly different reality: not to say it's bad, merely to say it's different. It's possible to be different and decent at the same time, but to my mind, this is a diversion on the way to find nirvana rather than a destination of any sort.

At the end of this it's worth noting that the Jack Daniels is no longer banished amongst the vegetables. Faint praise, perhaps; but praise all the same.