George Dickel No. 12 Tennessee Whisky

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Tennessee whisky from the Cascade Hollow Distillery near Tullahoma. The new spirit is chilled before charcoal mellowing, giving a smooth mix of dark fruit, vanilla and maple sweetness.

Details

Brand	George Dickel
Distillery	Cascade Hollow Distillery (George Dickel)
Origin	USA / Tennessee
Style	Tennessee
Age	NAS
ABV	45%
Cask	New oak casks

Flavour profile

Smoky
Sweet
Fruity
Spicy
Rich

* Editorial estimate.

Tasting notes

Nose: Dark fruit, vanilla and toasted oak.
Palate: Smooth, with caramel, maple and a buttery richness.
Finish: Medium-long, with lingering maple and toasty oak.

* Editorial tasting notes.

How to enjoy it

On the rocks
Highball
Cocktails

At 45% it holds its flavour well over ice. It's also an easy choice for highballs and cocktails like the Manhattan.

Food pairing

Barbecue, spare ribs, fried chicken and other Southern fare. Pecan pie, too.

Background & production

Made at the Cascade Hollow Distillery near Tullahoma in Coffee County, Tennessee. Whiskey was being made in the hollow by the 1870s, and the brand carries the name of German immigrant George A. Dickel. After Prohibition the distillery was rebuilt in 1958, and it is now owned by Diageo.

The mash bill is 84% corn, 8% rye and 8% malted barley. The new spirit is chilled to about 4°C (40°F) and filtered for several days through vats of sugar-maple charcoal before going into barrels — the chilling step sets it apart from other Tennessee whiskies.

Reflecting the founder's belief that his product matched the quality of Scotch, it uses the Scottish spelling 'whisky'. No. 12 is bottled at 45% ABV.