George Dickel Cascade Hollow is good stuff

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George Dickel Cascade Hollow is good stuff

Wednesday, May 20th, 2009 | East Tennessee, Food & Drink |

My new fave cheap sour mash whiskey is George Dickel Cascade Hollow, AKA red label.

Previously Dickel’s (slightly) discount version was the No. 8 black label. I always spent the modest premium to get the much better No. 12 tan label.

The Cascade Hollow red label is significantly cheaper than both and pleasant to drink. My nearest store has it for $10 a fifth, which is about half the price of Jim Beam or Jack. It’s worth a try if you like your whiskey Southern. It isn’t the best sour mash whiskey I’ve ever had, but it’s the best in its price range by a wide margin.

Dickel is a Tennessee whiskey, which is a sour mash whiskey, like bourbon. Bourbon has its own legal definition and is not necessarily made in the Bourbon region of Kentucky, though it must be made in the United States.

Tennessee whiskey can likewise be made outside of Tennessee. Dickel was originally made in Tennessee, then was made in Kentucky during Tennessee’s state Prohibition of 1910, but as of 1958 is now made once again in Cascade Hollow in Tullahoma, Tennessee.

By definition what makes it Tennessee whiskey is charcoal filtering prior to aging. For the aging process it’s stored in new oak barrels that are charred on the inside. After one use they’re discarded. Here in Tennessee you can find Jack Daniels whiskey barrels at garden centers such as Lowe’s cut in half for use as planters. We have one in our garden we’ve fitted with a pre-formed hard plastic pond liner and a pump/filter for use as a decorative pond with goldfish and aquatic plants.

Jack Daniels is the best known Tennessee whiskey, but I’ve never cared for it. Give me George Dickel or bourbon instead.

UPDATE: Here’s a little background on how Cascade Hollow came to be. It was originally aged three years, but is now aged at least four years.

Previously

Elijah Craig Bourbon (Elijah who? Oh, nobody. He’s just the Baptist preacher who invented bourbon!)
George Dickel No. 8 Shortage
Buy That Man a Drink

Tags: bourbon

6 Comments to George Dickel Cascade Hollow is good stuff

Arthur
May 20, 2009

Great post! Coincidentally I just got back from ye ole liquor store and couldn’t find my normal black label Dickels; after reading your post I found out that apparently there has been a shortage of the original stuff but the red label has stepped up as a cheaper but still tasty alternative. Cheers!

Dave
May 21, 2009

If you like American rye then Jim Beam’s yellow label is of good value for a better than average rye.

If you’re willing to lay down some cash Old Rip van Winkle has some nice offerings

SayUncle » Likker bloggin
May 29, 2009

[...] Les is right, George Dickel Cascade Hollow is good stuff. Had some last night. Pretty good. [...]

countertop
May 29, 2009

I like Jack. I had a bottle of Jack that was made with their recipie from the 50s, it had a slightly higher proof tand gorgeous bottle) that I got at the distillery last year.

Finished it yesterday and was planning on a return visit this summer. I seem to recall George Dickel isn’t too far away, is it worth visiting for a tour??

Les Jones
May 29, 2009

Haven’t been. We were in Murfreesboro this past weekend and realized how close we were to JD distillery. We’re going to make that trip one of these days.

Carl Riechers
August 10, 2009

Have missed Old #8 for years, and have had to drink JD instead. Took the JD tour a few years ago and it was great, but the George Dickel plant and gift shop was shut down. I think it might still be shut down as I tried to call their number and got a fax machine! I would call before I go. The plant is also quite hard to find. I have read that #8 is available in some southern state, but not Florida. Hoping it will be back on the shelves soon.