Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Honey Whisky Liqueur Review

Tennessee Honey’s Robe

• Hue: Aged Sauternes
• Transparency: Unctuous
• Body: Mild

When poured, Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Honey reveals a luscious light caramel colour that is reminiscent of aged sauternes. Despite being quite thin and light in body, it appears quite unctuous without becoming syrupy.

Swirling the contents in my Peugeot Les Impitoyables glass, I noted that it did create “whiskey” legs that were thin and quite quick to run down the glass. Although apparently chill-filtered, adding a drop will reveal some cloudy viscometric whirls.

Tennessee Honey’s Nose

• Notes: Honey, Marmalade, Fudge
• Nosefeel: Warming, Eucalyptic

It comes as no surprise that Tennessee Honey reveals a pungent honey note in the nose. However, I was delighted to discovered that it offered much more!

Taking a long inhalation, it offered buttery notes of citrus fruit and spices. After a few moments nosing, I identified unctuous marmalade with a rich fudge that softens the citrus tingle.

In terms of nosefeel, it’s very accessible and interestingly tame. There’s no alcohol bloom, which should be expected at this concentration. Instead, it offers a initial warming sensation followed by the citrus prickliness.

Jack Daniel’s Palate & Mouthfeel

• Primary Tastes: Sweet, Umami
• Mouthfeel: Warming, Oily
• Opening:  Nutmeg, Milk Chocolate
• Heart: Marmalade, Cinnamon
• Finish: Short [Fudge, Salted Caramel]

While not an overly complex liqueur, Tennessee Honey is a very pleasant experienced, especially for those with a sweet tooth! Overall, it offers an unsurprisingly sweet profile but there is an savoury umami presence too.

As for the mouthfeel, it’s quite warming and offers an oily coating over the palate that’s very tantalising indeed. This experience opens with spicy nutmeg and smooth milk chocolate. The heart that follows revisits the thick marmalade encountered in the nose as well as a cinnamon warmth.

While the finish is quite short, it’s very pleasant and leaves you reaching for me. Although a honey aroma is present throughout, it offers a buttery sensation that evokes soft fudge and salted caramel.

Best Pairings & How To Drink Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Honey

Being very easy to drink, Tennessee Honey is one of those liqueurs that can be paired well with a variety of things. Firstly, it would make for an easy cocktail mixer. Similarly, I would consider adding a nip into my coffee as the flavours would work well together.

Convsersely, it can be consumed neat. While the brand may suggest having it chilled, I actually prefer it room temperature as the honey aromas really reveal themselves.

Alternatively, I’d be interested to try cooking with it too. Its profile could help create some wonderfully flavoursome and unique recipes. For instance, it could work wonders in a marinade or a glaze when grilling meat.

If you enjoy cigars, consider opting for something that’s relatively creamy. In this regard, a Connecticut shade wrapper would probably offer the best experience. Personally, I would recommend the JC Newman Brick House, which is one of our favourites.

Overall Experience & Value For Money

Tennessee Honey is presented as a variation on a theme given that it uses the same square-bottle as the original Old No. 7 expression. However, the label is a creamy yellow instead of black and features the silhouette of a bee instead of the “Old No. 7” crest.

Admittedly, I was a little reticent when I first saw the bottle. Indeed, I half expected it to be something of a marketing gimmick with artificial flavourings. However, while it’s likely to have used some in its production, it’s not the feeling I had when tasting it.

In terms of value for money, it’s often sold at the exact same price as the regular Old No.7 Tennessee Whiskey. We found that the lowest price online was through Drizly, which can deliver it to your door in under an hour. However, its price and availability depend on where you live.

Meanwhile, Reserve Bar, a more conventional online retailer, sell it for $31 through their website.

Closing Thoughts

While it’s not something that I’ll probably reach for on a regular basis, I can appreciate Tennessee Honey for what it represents. After all, it isn’t marketed as a whiskey nor does it try to be one.

Instead, it relies on brand recognition and offers an accessible and pleasant liqueur that can be enjoyed in a variety of ways. If you have a sweet tooth, you may really enjoy it. It’s a great digestif on its own but can also be a creative addition to the cocktail enthusiast’s arsenal.

Further Reading

Once you’ve finished reading our review, feel free to peruse our wide range of related content such as the following resources:

• More Liquor Reviews
• Scotch Whisky Guides
• Best Whisky Glassware
• Bespoke Unit’s Spirit & Liquor Homepage