Tennessee whiskey

What Tennessee whiskey is

Tennessee whiskey is a regional style of American straight whiskey produced in the State of Tennessee that is made from a mash of at least 51% corn, aged in new charred oak barrels, and—in practice and by Tennessee state law—subjected to a charcoal filtering step commonly known as the Lincoln County Process before aging. (codes.findlaw.com)

Legal and production background

On the state level, Tennessee codified production criteria in House Bill 1084 (2013) and Tenn. Code Ann. § 57-2-106, which requires manufacture in Tennessee, a mash bill of at least 51% corn, aging in new charred oak barrels, bottling and proof limits, and filtration through maple charcoal prior to aging (the Lincoln County Process), with limited statutory exceptions. Federally and in trade agreements Tennessee whiskey is treated as a straight bourbon-type whiskey authorized to be produced only in Tennessee. (codes.findlaw.com)

The Lincoln County Process

Most Tennessee whiskey producers use the Lincoln County Process (maple-charcoal mellowing or filtration) as a defining production step; the method varies by producer but is central to the style and is specifically required by Tennessee law for products labeled "Tennessee whiskey." Not every Tennessee-made whiskey uses the process (some exceptions exist), but the process is widely associated with the category. (en.wikipedia.org)

Ownership and brands

Tennessee whiskey is a category rather than a single branded product. Major brands include Jack Daniel's (owned by Brown-Forman, a U.S.-headquartered spirits company) and George Dickel (owned by Diageo, headquartered in the UK), among others like Uncle Nearest and numerous craft distillers. Because many independent and corporate brands produce Tennessee whiskey, there is no single ultimate owner of the category. (en.wikipedia.org)

Manufacturing origin

By definition and law, Tennessee whiskey must be manufactured in Tennessee (United States). In practice most commercial Tennessee whiskey is distilled, filtered, matured, and bottled in Tennessee, though the companies that own brands may be headquartered elsewhere. (codes.findlaw.com)