George Dickel is the quieter of Tennessee's two major whisky houses, and Classic Recipe is its flagship, the bottling most people mean when they talk about Dickel. It was previously sold as No. 8 and carries the same liquid under a redesigned label. Production happens at Cascade Hollow Distillery in Tullahoma, where the operation traces back to 1870, and the defining step is the Lincoln County Process: filtering the new make through sugar maple charcoal before it ever reaches a barrel. Dickel adds its own twist to that. The whisky is chilled to around forty degrees Fahrenheit before mellowing, a practice rooted in George Dickel's own belief that spirit made in the cold winter months came out smoother than summer distillate. Chilling causes fatty acids and heavier compounds to precipitate out, so the charcoal removes more of them, and the result is a noticeably rounder, softer whisky than the process alone would give. The spelling is deliberate too. Dickel dropped the E from whiskey because he considered his product the equal of fine Scotch, and the brand has kept the Scottish convention ever since. In the glass it is exactly what it promises: mellow and approachable, with light caramel and gentle oak on the nose, warm vanilla through the palate and a clean, easy finish that does not bite. It is not trying to be complex or challenging. What it is instead is one of the most reliable value pours in American whisky, equally at home neat, over ice, or holding its shape in a highball or a whisky sour without being overpowered.
ABV / Proof
| ABV |
40% |
| Proof |
80 |
| Size |
750ml |
| Country |
United States |
| Region |
Tullahoma, Coffee County, Tennessee |
| Category |
Tennessee Whisky |
| Expression |
Classic Recipe (formerly No. 8) |
| 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 lead, 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 Classic Recipe? It is bottled at 80 proof, or 40 percent alcohol by volume.
Is this the same as George Dickel No. 8? Yes. Classic Recipe is the current name for the bottling previously sold as No. 8, following a label redesign.
Why is whisky spelled without an E? George Dickel believed his whisky matched the quality of fine Scotch, so he adopted the Scottish spelling. 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 makes the result noticeably smoother.
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 Classic Recipe online? Available here at Liquor On Broadway while stock lasts, with fast insured shipping nationwide.
