Sweet tea is the South's default drink, and putting it in a Mason jar at Sugarlands is about as on the nose as a collaboration gets. This one carries the name of Chipper Jones, the Hall of Fame third baseman who spent his entire nineteen season career with one club and remains one of the most decorated switch hitters the game has produced. The jar leans into that without being subtle about it, with a baseball graphic behind the portrait and stitching running through the label design. What is inside is a straightforward and well judged take on the drink itself. The base is black tea rather than a generic sweet flavoring, and it comes through with real tannin structure underneath, which is what stops it collapsing into syrup. Cane sugar provides the sweetness, and there is a distinct sassafras note running through the middle that adds an old fashioned root beer adjacent depth you do not usually get in a tea flavored spirit. Citrus sits on top, so it reads like tea with lemon rather than tea alone. Be clear on what this is. The label states neutral spirits with natural flavor and caramel color, so it is a flavored spirit rather than a whiskey, and at 20 percent alcohol by volume, or 40 proof, it is genuinely low strength, roughly half of a standard spirit. Serve it very cold over ice, which is the only correct way to drink sweet tea anyway. It also mixes well with lemonade for an Arnold Palmer with a kick, and pairs naturally with peach, lemon, cranberry and orange.
ABV / Proof
| ABV |
20% |
| Proof |
40 |
| Size |
750ml |
| Country |
United States |
| Region |
Gatlinburg, Tennessee |
| Category |
Flavored Moonshine |
| Expression |
Chipper Jones' Sweet Tea |
| Base |
Neutral spirits with natural flavor and caramel color |
| Distillery |
Sugarlands Distilling Company LLC |
| Packaging |
Mason jar with wire bail |
Tasting Notes
Color: Deep reddish brown, like strongly brewed tea, from added caramel color.
Nose: Freshly brewed black tea with a clear lift of lemon and a soft sweetness behind it.
Palate: Sweet black tea over real cane sugar, with a distinct sassafras note through the middle and balanced tannins keeping it from turning syrupy.
Finish: Clean and comforting, with lingering tea and citrus and a gentle warmth.
FAQ
What proof is Sugarlands Chipper Jones' Sweet Tea? It is 40 proof, or 20 percent alcohol by volume, roughly half the strength of a standard spirit.
Is this whiskey? No. The label states neutral spirits with natural flavor and caramel color, making it a flavored spirit rather than a whiskey.
What does it taste like? Brewed sweet tea with cane sugar and citrus, with a sassafras note underneath and enough tannin structure to keep it balanced rather than cloying.
How should I serve it? Very cold over plenty of ice. It also mixes well with lemonade, and pairs with peach, lemon, cranberry and orange.
How does it compare to the other Sugarlands jars? It sits at the lower end of the range at 40 proof, the same strength as Butterscotch Gold, below Appalachian Apple Pie at 50 and Root Beer at 70.
Where can I buy Sugarlands Chipper Jones' Sweet Tea Moonshine online? Available here at Liquor On Broadway while stock lasts, with fast insured shipping nationwide.
