Naughty

[karohemd]

Heston Blumenthal, culinary scientist extraordinaire, just called Jack Daniels a Bourbon. Bad boy.

However, the MRI scan showing what happens when we eat chilli, was very interesting (pain and pleasure centres being activated).

Comments

[mr-malk.livejournal.com]

JD is a bourbon.
I know they call it a "sippin' whiskey", but surely they ain't kiddin' no one outside a' Tennessee?!

It's a bourbon, and if you ever see me drinking it, stay well away from me, it usually means I'm either in a foul mood already, or will be before too long!

[karohemd.livejournal.com]

Heh, I was told very specifically at least three times that it's not while at the distillery, the main difference being the charcoal filtering. ;o)

[mr-malk.livejournal.com]

Yes... but that's a load of old cock.

It's a piece of American legal sophistry, based on American definitions of what constitutes whiskey (or indeed whisky). The fact is, by American federal law, JD does not actually meet the criteria required to be called Bourbon, and in any case, I think I'm right in saying that Bourbon is considered to be a whiskey by the poor deluded souls that drink the stuff.

Similarly, some Japanese firms buy whisky from Scotland, have it dehydrated, imported and reconstituted with sake. That isn't whisky (or whiskey) either in any definition that I recognise, but it's sold as such.

Legally, a drink cannot be called Scotch unless it comes from Scotland, and Scotland has its own rules as to what defines whisky. Whiskey on the other hand is a generic term that is open to use and abuse by all and sundry. I suspect that the esteemed Mr Blumenthal is of the same opinon as me, that whatever US law says, JD is far closer in heritage to Bourbon than it is to either Scotch Whisky or Irish Whiskey.

Incidentally, charcoal filtering was only introduced into the Scotch whisky distilling process was because of Americans bitching about the cloudiness of Scotch when served chilled, when they prefer their drinks transparent. It also introduced carcinogens to the process, so it's nothing to be proud of, whatever they say in Kentucky!

[karohemd.livejournal.com]

Oh yeah, I'm aware of all that.
Hey, I only use it for cooking, too. Might drink a Jack and Coke now and then but a lot less than I used to. Much prefer a nice single malt these days. :o)

[mr-malk.livejournal.com]

Well that's alright then! ;-)

[psychokatuk.livejournal.com]

That chilli he made looked sooooooooo delicious! I was cooking dinner at the time and it made my meal so look unappetising (although it wasn't!)

I may have to cook chilli tonight, although it won't be quite the same (downside to being married to a vegetarian!)

[karohemd.livejournal.com]

I really want to try it. If I'm in the area I'll have lunch at his pub at some point and for my 40th I'm doing the tasting menu at the Fat Duck. ;o)

[pmoodie.livejournal.com]

As far as I'm concerned, JD is bourbon.

It certainly isn't considered whiskey in Scotland, I can tell you that!