This is the top of the George Dickel range and a genuinely uncommon bottle. Seventeen year old American whisky is rare for straightforward economic reasons: the angels take a heavy share in a hot climate, so most distillers dump their barrels long before that point. Cascade Hollow's single story rickhouses in Tullahoma make it viable, since the more even temperature swings allow the whisky to mature without being stripped out or turning bitterly oaky, and those extra years are where this bottling gets its depth. It first appeared in 2016 as a 375ml limited release that sold out quickly, and the return in a full 750ml format was driven by that response, with General Manager and Distiller Nicole Austin selecting barrels intended to echo the original. The mashbill is the standard Dickel recipe, 84 percent corn with 8 percent rye and 8 percent malted barley, and the new make still passes through the chilled sugar maple charcoal mellowing that defines Tennessee whisky before it ever goes into wood. What changes everything here is time and strength. Bottled at cask strength, 46 percent alcohol by volume, this is a substantially bigger whisky than the 80 proof core range. It pours a deep amber with copper lights and genuinely coats the glass. The nose runs to crème brûlée, baked apricot, plum and warm baking spice. The palate is rich and layered, opening on honey, toffee and vanilla before spice and a touch of tropical fruit arrive, closing on peppery oak, cedar and a black tea tannin grip. Add a few drops of water and it opens further. Drink it neat, slowly, and do not mix it.
ABV / Proof
| ABV |
46% |
| Proof |
92 |
| Size |
750ml |
| Country |
United States |
| Region |
Tullahoma, Coffee County, Tennessee |
| Category |
Tennessee Whisky |
| Expression |
Reserve, Cask Strength |
| Age |
17 years |
| Mashbill |
84% corn, 8% rye, 8% malted barley |
| Distillery |
Cascade Hollow Distilling Co. |
| Filtration |
Chill mellowed through sugar maple charcoal, Lincoln County Process |
| Maturation |
Single story rickhouses, Cascade Hollow |
| Producer |
Diageo |
Tasting Notes
Color: Deep amber with copper highlights, coating the glass heavily.
Nose: Rich and complex, with crème brûlée, baked apricot and plum over cinnamon, nutmeg and caramel, with a faint juniper lift.
Palate: Full and layered, opening on honey, toffee and vanilla before spice builds through the middle with a touch of tropical fruit.
Finish: Long and peppery, with charred oak, cedar and a dry black tea tannin holding the sweetness in check.
FAQ
What proof is George Dickel 17 Year Reserve? It is bottled at cask strength, 92 proof or 46 percent alcohol by volume, substantially above the 80 proof core range.
What is the mashbill? The standard George Dickel recipe of 84 percent corn, 8 percent rye and 8 percent malted barley.
Why is seventeen year old American whisky unusual? Heat drives heavy evaporation loss and aggressive oak extraction, so most American whisky is bottled far younger. Cascade Hollow's single story rickhouses allow longer maturation without the whisky turning excessively woody.
Is it bourbon? No. Although the mashbill is corn dominant, the whisky is charcoal mellowed through sugar maple before barreling and is designated Tennessee whisky, not bourbon.
Should I add water? Try it neat first. At cask strength a few drops noticeably mellow the spice and let the sweeter notes come forward, so it is worth tasting both ways.
Where can I buy George Dickel 17 Year Reserve online? Available here at Liquor On Broadway while stock lasts, with fast insured shipping nationwide.
