Jack Daniels Tennessee Fire

Jack Daniel's Tennessee Fire is a flavored American whiskey from Tennessee, bottled at 35% ABV. It blends Jack Daniel's Old No. 7 Tennessee Whiskey with a cinnamon liqueur. That puts it in the whiskey-liqueur category, not straight Tennessee whiskey, and the lower strength reflects it. Expect cinnamon-candy heat up front and a sweetness that softens the grain and oak of the base whiskey. Old No. 7 usually brings light vanilla, a little caramel and gentle charcoal-mellowed oak, and those notes tend to sit behind the spice here, not in front of it. For sipping, the best way to try it is chilled. Cold temperatures tighten the sweetness and keep the cinnamon from turning syrupy, so a bottle kept in the freezer pours as a clean, brisk shot. On the rocks works well for a slower pour. The ice dilutes it slightly and takes some edge off the heat, and a rocks glass is the natural fit. Because the proof is lower than a standard whiskey, a splash of water adds little, and a Glencairn is less useful here than for a straight bourbon, since the cinnamon aroma dominates any subtler grain or oak character. In mixing, the cinnamon is the main asset. A highball of Tennessee Fire with ginger ale or ginger beer is simple and works well, since the ginger adds its own warmth and the cinnamon reads as a spiced note. Cola is another easy pairing, and apple cider, hot or cold, fits the cinnamon naturally. For an Old Fashioned, use it in place of the sugar cube and add a couple of dashes of aromatic bitters over ice. The whiskey is already sweetened, so skip the extra sugar or the drink will tip too sweet. In a Whiskey Sour, lemon juice balances the sweetness well, and you will likely want less simple syrup than usual. A Manhattan is the weaker fit: the cinnamon tends to clash with sweet vermouth, so if you try it, keep the vermouth measure small and use a dry or bianco style. As for food, the heat and sugar suit salty or smoky dishes such as barbecue, cured meats and sharp cheeses, and baked apple or pecan desserts echo the spice. It also works as a shot alongside a beer.