Tennessee
Charcoal-mellowed and smooth: bourbon's quieter neighbour, and home to the world's best-selling American whiskey.
Charcoal-mellowed and smooth
Tennessee whiskey is often described as bourbon's quieter neighbour. It is made in much the same way: mostly corn, aged in new charred oak. What sets it apart is one extra step. Before it goes into the barrel, the new spirit is filtered slowly through a deep bed of charcoal made from sugar maple. This is known as the Lincoln County Process.
That step softens the spirit, taking out some of the harsher notes and leaving a smooth, gently sweet whiskey with a hint of toasty smoke.
Tennessee law requires the whiskey to be made in the state, to be at least 51% corn, to be aged in new charred oak and to be charcoal-filtered. Jack Daniel's and George Dickel are the two best-known producers, and a growing group of craft distilleries adds variety.
How it tastes
Caramel, toasted oak, banana and a touch of smoke.
Smooth and gently sweet, with brown sugar, vanilla and light char.
Medium, clean and gently smoky.
New charred American oak, as the law requires.
Sugar-maple charcoal mellowing takes out harsher notes before the whiskey goes into the barrel.
Easy sipping, and simple mixed drinks such as a whiskey and cola.
Tennessee Distilleries to know
Five distilleries, from a global giant to young craft names. Each one links to its full profile.
Jack Daniel's
The best-known name in Tennessee, made in Lynchburg and charcoal-mellowed.
Cascade Hollow
Home of George Dickel, which chills its whisky before it is filtered through charcoal.
Uncle Nearest
A premium brand named after Nearest Green, now with its own distillery near Shelbyville.
Nelson's Green Brier
A historic Nashville whiskey name, revived and distilling again.
Chattanooga Whiskey
An experimental small-batch distillery known for its high-malt style.
Tennessee whiskey
The rules, the process and how it differs from bourbon.
Where to start
Five widely available bottles, from smoothest to boldest.
Visiting Tennessee
Tennessee's big distilleries are in small towns, which makes for an enjoyable road trip from Nashville. Book tours ahead, particularly at Jack Daniel's, and plan a designated driver.
Keep exploring
Kentucky
The home of bourbon: rich, sweet and warming.
New York
Young, grain-forward craft whiskey from the Hudson Valley and beyond.
Canada
Light, smooth and often rye-forward.
Bourbon
The law is the recipe: how bourbon is made and how it tastes.
Taste your way around the world
Tennessee is only the start. Browse every region, or go straight to the distilleries.