This is the bottle that made George Dickel's name, wearing the label most people picture when they think of the brand. The red numeral 8 on the front, capsule and neck marks it as the No. 8 presentation, which the distillery has since simplified to Classic Recipe on current production. The liquid is the same whisky either way, so if you have a preference for the older look, this is the one to reach for. Everything about how it is made sits in Tullahoma, Tennessee, where Cascade Hollow Distillery traces back to 1870. The defining step is the Lincoln County Process, filtering new make spirit through sugar maple charcoal before it goes into a barrel, and it is what legally separates Tennessee whisky from bourbon. Dickel does that step differently from anyone else. The whisky is chilled to around forty degrees Fahrenheit before mellowing, which comes from George Dickel's own conviction that spirit made in the cold months came out smoother than summer distillate. Chilling precipitates out fatty acids and heavier compounds so the charcoal strips more of them away, and the result is a rounder, softer whisky than the process alone would deliver. The spelling is deliberate too: Dickel dropped the E because he rated his whisky the equal of fine Scotch, and the brand has kept the Scottish convention since. In the glass it is exactly what it claims to be. Light caramel and soft oak on the nose, warm vanilla through a mellow palate, and a clean finish with no bite. Straightforward, reliable, and one of the better value pours in American whisky, whether neat, over ice or in a highball.
ABV / Proof
| ABV |
40% |
| Proof |
80 |
| Size |
750ml |
| Country |
United States |
| Region |
Tullahoma, Coffee County, Tennessee |
| Category |
Tennessee Whisky |
| Expression |
No. 8, Classic Recipe |
| Mashbill |
Sour mash |
| Distillery |
Cascade Hollow Distilling Co. |
| Filtration |
Chill mellowed through sugar maple charcoal, Lincoln County Process |
| Producer |
Diageo |
Tasting Notes
Color: Bright amber gold.
Nose: Light caramel and soft oak, with a clean grain note and gentle sweetness behind.
Palate: Mellow and approachable, with warm vanilla, caramel and light wood spice over a smooth, unaggressive body.
Finish: Short to medium, clean and warming, closing on vanilla and oak without heat or bite.
FAQ
What proof is George Dickel No. 8? It is bottled at 80 proof, or 40 percent alcohol by volume.
Is No. 8 the same whisky as Classic Recipe? Yes. The distillery simplified the name and dropped the numeral from the front label on later production. This bottle carries the No. 8 presentation with the red numeral on the label, capsule and neck.
Why is whisky spelled without an E? George Dickel believed his whisky matched the quality of fine Scotch, so he adopted the Scottish spelling, and the brand has used it ever since.
What is the Lincoln County Process? Filtering new make spirit through sugar maple charcoal before barreling. It is the step that legally distinguishes Tennessee whisky from bourbon. Dickel chills the whisky first, which removes more heavy compounds and produces a noticeably smoother result.
Is it bourbon? No. It is Tennessee whisky, a distinct category defined by the charcoal mellowing step, and the label does not designate it as bourbon.
Where can I buy George Dickel No. 8 online? Available here at Liquor On Broadway while stock lasts, with fast insured shipping nationwide.
