Chattanooga Whiskey was named Craft Producer of the Year at the recent 2023 Icons of Whisky Awards, which were presented in conjunction with the World Whiskies Awards. This Tennessee craft distillery is making some of the best whisky in the state. Will it outperform the Jack Daniels craze?
New Era Of Tennessee Whisky?
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On March 30, the World Whiskies Awards announced the World’s Best winners as well as the Icons of Whisky worldwide winners in an event held at The Merchant Taylors’ Hall in London. An experienced team chose Chattanooga Whiskey from a selection that included highlighted distilleries from America, Ireland, Scotland, India, and the rest of the world.
In the realm of American whiskey, barrel finishes are popular, but only on bourbon and rye. Chattanooga Whiskey is made using a unique process that involves ageing the whiskey in small barrels, which accelerates the maturation process and gives the whiskey a distinct flavour profile. The distillery also uses local grains and water, which gives the whiskey a true sense of place and a connection to the region’s rich whiskey-making history.
It is also the first distillery located in Chattanooga, Tennessee in over 100 years. Priced at $ 41 for 750ml, the whisky is only available in the American states of Tennessee, Georgia, South Carolina, Mississippi and more. Yes, it’s yet to hit the Indian market.
What Makes Chattanooga Whiskey Different?
One of the flagship products of Chattanooga Whiskey is their 1816 Reserve bourbon, which is named after the year that Tennessee became a state. This bourbon is made with a high percentage of corn and aged for at least two years in new, charred oak barrels. The result is a smooth and flavorful whiskey that has won numerous awards and accolades.
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For example, their whisky, Barrel 91, is a four-grain whisky. It is distilled in column stills before being matured for at least two years in charred and toasted casks and then, finished in a 4,000-gallon charred solera finishing barrel. This creates a unique, complex whisky with flavours of dried fruits, sweet honey, caramel corn, vanilla, and oaky wood. It’s a great whisky for mixing into your favourite cocktails but is equally great as a neat slow sipper.
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They also produce a range of other bourbons, including their Cask Strength and Single Barrel expressions, as well as their ‘Experimental Series’ releases, which showcase the distillery’s creativity and innovation.
It’s okay if you don’t know much about Tennessee whisky. Jack Daniel’s undoubtedly rules the world of Tennessee whisky, which also rules the world of American whisky in general. But myriad other brands are making high-quality, flavourful whiskies. This industry behemoth has been innovating with intriguing new products in recent years. Chattanooga Whiskey, on the other hand, is a small distillery that is putting on a great show.
Did Chattanooga Whiskey intrigue you enough?
Cover image credits: Instagram/Chattanooga Whiskey
First Published: April 13, 2023 7:19 PM