Gentleman Jack: How Does It Compare To Jack No. 7?

I’ve reviewed regular ol’ Jack Daniels, Jack Daniels Single Barrel Select, and JD Bonded, but I’ve never covered Gentleman Jack. It’s my Dad’s go-to whiskey drink, so I’ve had my fair share of it, which is possibly why I’ve passed on it when it comes to my reviews.

We’re going to cover the tasting notes of Gentleman Jack, but we’re also going to discuss how it’s similar and different from other Jack Daniels expressions. Is it that much better than Jack No. 7? Is it better than Bonded or Single Barrel Select? Where does Gentleman Jack fall into place among the lineup of the best sold whiskey in the world?

What is Gentleman Jack? How is it Different?

Gentleman Jack is the same whiskey as Jack Daniels Old No. 7 with one major difference: it goes through charcoal filtration a second time.

Jack Daniel’s has a mashbill of 80% corn, 8% rye, and 12% malted barley. After distillation, the whiskey is steeped through maple charcoal, removing impurities and ‘mellowing’ the spirit. It’s then aged a minimum of 4 years, bottled, and sold.

Gentleman Jack adds in a second maple charcoal filtration after the aging process and before bottling. This removes some of the color and flavor but also impurities. This is why you’ll see the bottle say “Double Mellowed” as charcoal filtration makes a smoother, more mellow sip.

Filtering whiskey through charcoal is known as the Lincoln County Process, and it’s what separates Tennessee whiskey from bourbon.

Gentleman Jack Overview

• Spirit: Tennessee Whiskey
• Owned By: Brown-Forman
• Distilled By: Jack Daniels Distillery
• Aged: NAS – 4+ Years
• ABV: 40%, 80 Proof
• Mashbill: 80 % Corn, 8% Rye, 12% Malted Barley
• Price: $25-35

Jack Daniel’s Gentleman Jack is priced in the $25-35. At a larger retailer such as Total Wine, you’ll likely be able to find it closer to $25, and smaller, local retailers will likely have it for just above $30.

We’ll be looking to see how the second mellowing changes the whiskey from Old No. 7. Does it remove some of those harsh qualities? Does it also remove the good flavors?

Another thing to keep in mind are the barrels. We don’t know if Jack Daniels uses select barrels for this expression or whether it’s just any of their regular barrels that would normally go into Old No. 7. I hope they would use some more quality barrels, but even if they do, it’s not the same quality as their single barrel expressions. Perhaps they don’t use higher quality barrels but instead forgo some of the lesser quality ones.

Gentleman Jack Tasting Notes

Okay, now that we’ve covered the basics, let’s get into the flavor profile of Gentleman Jack. Are there significant differences, or is it regular old Jack at a higher price? Let’s find out.

Nose: There’s a little thinness and sharpness that reminds me of Old No. 7, but it’s definitely more rounded. Honey, banana, oak and barrel char, light citrus and brown/maple sugar.

Palate: Honey and oak are most prominent for me with some pepper sizzling in the background. That banana and brown sugar are there throughout, but take more of a backseat to the honey. A thicker mouthfeel that I remember and expected. Not thick, but more so than Jack No. 7 and Bonded.

Finish: Pepper & honey, there’s a buttery quality with some dry oak, and a slight nuttiness that I typically find in Jack at the finish.

Taste Summary

I’m not a huge fan of Jack Daniels Old No. 7. In fact, I don’t really like it at all outside of a Jack & Coke, but I like Gentleman Jack. Banana and brown maple sugar are staples of Jack and Tennessee whiskeys, and they are present here, but honey, oak, and some char are most prominent for me.

The mouthfeel was a plus – in comparison to other Jack expressions – and it was an easy sipper. There’s nothing unique or great about Gentleman Jack, it’s Jack Daniel’s just a little nicer.

Is Gentleman Jack Worth Buying over Jack Daniels Old No. 7?

This is all very subjective as it depends on what you like, how you like to drink whiskey, and what kind of whiskey drinker you are.

Gentleman Jack is ~$7 more expensive than the standard black label Jack Daniels. If you’re wanting to drink Jack neat or on the rocks, then yes, the extra $7 is 100% worth it in my opinion. Gentleman Jack is inoffensive and smooth and it’s an easy sipper. If that sounds like your type of whiskey, then this may be for you.

Do you want a stronger kick? appreciate a more “challenging” sipper? or some more depth and richness? Maybe JD Bonded or Jack’s single barrel options are for you.

Personally, I’m a big fan of Jack Daniels Single Barrel Barrel Select, and if I were going to buy a bottle, it’d be of that. However, that’s a $55+ bottle. Otherwise, Gentleman Jack or JD Bonded would be my choice.

Summary

Gentleman Jack is your standard Jack Daniels whiskey, but it undergoes the Lincoln County Process, charcoal filtration, a second time after aging and before bottling. It’s meant to remove impurities and mellow out the spirit, and it does a pretty good job of that. Jack, to me, isn’t very mellow. I find it quite harsh due to its thin, sharp nature. A second go-around through charcoal seems to help quite a bit – or perhaps they do use higher quality barrels.

For an extra ~$7 or so, you can upgrade from Jack Daniels Old No. 7 to Gentleman Jack. Now, if you’re planning on making a Jack & Coke, just stick with the cheaper option; however, if you’re wanting to drink Jack neat, on the rocks, or a cocktail, there’s no reason you should upgrade to at least Gentleman Jack.

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