Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Fire Review
We’re starting the week off with a review of Tennessee Fire, the new cinnamon whiskey from Jack Daniels that launched nationally last month. It’s also the first flavored release since the highly successful launch of Jack Daniels Tennessee Honey. Over the past few months there’s been a lot of buzz about Jack Fire but the elephant in the room is still Fireball Whisky, the brand that OWNS the cinnamon whiskey category. Is this just the latest example of a brand jumping on the cinnamon-liqueur bandwagon or is this JD’s attempt to show up fashionably late to the party and steal the show (Again).
A lot has changed about the perception of cinnamon liqueurs and whiskies since Fireball re-invented itself back in 2006. I remember when the only time you saw someone drinking cinnamon-anything was at ladies night outs or bachelorette parties. It wasn’t popular, it wasn’t really cool either. Fast forward to now and it’s essentially taken Jagermeisters place with the next generation of drinkers as the “shot of choice” at the bar. Nasir Jones said it best, “When you’re on top there’s envy” and because of that we now have Jim Beam Fire, Red Stag Spiced, Cinnerator, Early Times Fire Eater, and a bunch of other brands, some of which to be honest, taste like crap. Now it’s Jack Daniels turn:
First Impression: As we’ve mentioned in the past, we love the signature look and design of a JD bottle. They haven’t strayed far away with this release making only subtle changes to the design and swapping out classic black for a red-hot packaging. Everyone of these cinnamon liqueur brands takes a page from a candy company when crafting their taste and aroma. Some remind me of Big Red gum, others of Atomic Fireball candies. Jack Fire reminds me most of those little red-hots candies you had as a kid (or last night)? It’s like opening a box right under your nose. It’s kind of overwhelming and hides any trace of a whiskey smell under the cinnamon and sugar.
Tasting Notes: Sweet. Spicy. Smooth. Doesn’t need to be that complicated. The smell test had me worried but the cinnamon flavors in Jack Fire are perfect, not over the top, and sweet enough without being obnoxious. The finish is my favorite part though, it’s smooth and leaves absolutely no nasty after taste in your mouth like you sometimes get with liqueurs.
Price: 21.99/ 750 ML
Final Word: If you’ve been disappointed by other cinnamon-liqueurs in the past, this one might give you new hope. The flavor doesn’t taste artificial, It’s not overly syrupy like Red Stag, and it doesn’t leave an after taste like Fireball. Jack Fire balances the cinnamon-sugar-whiskey combination better than any other brand we’ve tried so far. A great taste is only half the battle though, but with a powerful brand name like Jack Daniels behind it, I wouldn’t be shocked if we saw Fireball Whisky come down off the throne.
For more information on Tennessee Fire, visit www.JackDaniels.com
Cheers!
Sample provided courtesy of Jack Daniels / Brown-Foreman
