Yes, Jack Daniel’s Southern Peach is a flavored whiskey that contains real whiskey as its base spirit. Let’s take a closer look at what’s inside this popular flavored whiskey.
What is Jack Daniel’s Southern Peach?
Jack Daniel’s Southern Peach is a peach-flavored version of Jack Daniel’s Old No. 7 Tennessee Whiskey. It was introduced in 2017 as a seasonal summer offering from the Jack Daniel’s distillery in Lynchburg, Tennessee.
Like the original Jack Daniel’s, Southern Peach begins with Jack Daniel’s Old No. 7 Tennessee Whiskey. After the whiskey has aged, natural peach flavors are added to give it a sweet, fruity taste profile while maintaining the smoothness of Jack Daniel’s whiskey.
Is there real whiskey in Jack Daniel’s Southern Peach?
Yes, Jack Daniel’s Southern Peach contains real Jack Daniel’s Old No. 7 Tennessee Whiskey as its base spirit before natural peach flavorings are added.
According to the Jack Daniel’s website, Southern Peach is made with 70 proof Jack Daniel’s Old No. 7 Tennessee Whiskey. The whiskey is first mellowed through Jack Daniel’s 10-step smoothing process, which involves charcoal mellowing, barrel aging, and Jack Daniel’s natural spring water.
Once the whiskey has matured, natural peach flavors are blended in to give Southern Peach its signature sweet peach taste and aroma. However, the underlying whiskey gives it a smooth, slightly oaky flavor typical of Jack Daniel’s.
What is the alcohol content of Jack Daniel’s Southern Peach?
Jack Daniel’s Southern Peach has an alcohol content of 35% ABV (70 proof), the same as regular Jack Daniel’s Old No. 7.
While the addition of natural peach flavors influences the taste, it does not change the actual alcohol concentration of the underlying whiskey, which must be at least 40% ABV (80 proof) to legally be called whiskey in the United States.
What ingredients are in Jack Daniel’s Southern Peach?
The main ingredients in Jack Daniel’s Southern Peach are:
- Jack Daniel’s Old No. 7 Tennessee Whiskey – The whiskey is first made from a mash of 80% corn, 12% barley, and 8% rye. It is then mellowed through charcoal and aged in oak barrels.
- Natural peach flavorings – Peach juice concentrate and peach essence give it the signature peach taste.
- Sugar – A small amount of sugar is added to enhance the peach flavor.
- Water – Jack Daniel’s spring water from the distillery in Lynchburg, Tennessee.
That’s it! There are no artificial flavors, colors, or preservatives in Southern Peach. The peach flavor comes from natural peach juice concentrates and extracts.
How does Jack Daniel’s make Southern Peach?
Jack Daniel’s Southern Peach is made using the following basic process:
- Jack Daniel’s Old No. 7 is first distilled and aged. The whiskey must go through Jack Daniel’s 10-step smoothing process involving sugar maple charcoal mellowing and maturation in new American oak barrels.
- Once the Jack Daniel’s whiskey has fully aged and meets quality standards, natural peach flavors are added. This includes peach juice concentrate and oils extracted from Georgia peaches.
- The flavored whiskey is bottled at 70 proof (35% ABV).
- The peach flavoring gives it a sweet, fruity taste and aroma while maintaining the smooth whiskey notes.
Does Jack Daniel’s make a non-flavored peach whiskey?
No, Jack Daniel’s does not make a non-flavored peach whiskey. Jack Daniel’s Southern Peach is their only peach-flavored whiskey variety.
All other Jack Daniel’s whiskies, including Old No. 7, Single Barrel, and Gentleman Jack, are unflavored. The peach flavor comes specifically from the added natural peach concentrates used to make Southern Peach.
Does Jack Daniel’s Southern Peach contain sugar?
Yes, Jack Daniel’s Southern Peach does contain some added sugar along with the natural peach flavors.
While the exact amount is not disclosed, there are approximately 4 grams of sugar per 1.5 oz serving. The added sugar enhances the sweet, fruity peach taste.
There is no sugar added during the production of regular unflavored Jack Daniel’s Old No. 7. The sugar content in the flavored Southern Peach is due solely to the added peach flavoring.
Does Southern Peach have the same “Bite” as regular Jack Daniel’s?
Jack Daniel’s Southern Peach has a slightly smoother, sweeter taste compared to regular Jack Daniel’s Old No. 7.
The natural peach flavors round out some of the spicy “bite” from the rye whiskey, making Southern Peach taste a bit gentler and more approachable. It retains some warmth on the palate but has a mellower finish due to the fruit flavors.
However, the underlying whiskey base still provides some spicy notes and the signature Jack Daniel’s flavor profile. It’s just toned down slightly by the peach. So while noticeably sweeter and fruitier, Southern Peach still packs a decent punch of whiskey flavor.
Does Jack Daniel’s Southern Peach taste like real peaches?
Yes, Jack Daniel’s Southern Peach has a predominant fresh peach taste that consumers say mimics the sweet flavor of real peaches.
The natural peach concentrates and essences provide aromatic peach notes on the nose, followed by juicy, ripe peach flavors on the palate. There are also hints of vanilla and oak from the whiskey maturation.
Many reviewers praise Southern Peach for delivering a true peach flavor experience that’s reminiscent of eating a fresh, ripe peach. The added sweetness enhances the juicy peach taste even further.
Conclusion
In summary, Jack Daniel’s Southern Peach contains real Jack Daniel’s Old No. 7 Tennessee Whiskey as its underlying base spirit, with natural peach flavors added after aging. The peach provides sweet, fruity notes while the whiskey contributes its signature smoothness. So for those who enjoy flavored whiskies and the taste of peaches, Jack Daniel’s Southern Peach offers an appealing twist on a classic whiskey.
