🥃 Jack Daniel’s Old No. 7
Jack Daniel’s base line: Tennessee whiskey with charcoal mellowing; new charred oak casks; 40% ABV.
Jack Daniel’s Old No. 7 is the base expression of the brand from Lynchburg, Tennessee. It is a Tennessee whiskey bottled at 40% ABV (80 proof), with no age statement. The producer describes it as a smooth spirit with notes of vanilla, orange, brown sugar and spice.
Fresh spirit slowly trickles through a layer of sugar maple charcoal before it matures in new charred American white oak barrels. According to Difford’s Guide, Jack himself named No. 7 in 1887, and the reason is not known for certain. The strength was standardised across all markets in 2010; previously bottles of 40, 43 and 45% were sold.
Why it matters for you. Old No. 7 is the benchmark for comparing the other lines: Gentleman Jack goes through a second charcoal mellowing, Single Barrel uses individual barrels, and Tennessee Rye has a different mash. The name “Tennessee Whiskey” is tied to state law, not just to the place. WHO reminds us: there is no safe level of alcohol consumption.
Facts
| Year founded | 1866 — distillery founded; No. 7 name given in 1887 (Difford’s Guide) |
|---|---|
| Legal basis | Tennessee Code § 57-2-106 (2013) |
| Raw material | mash of at least 51% corn (Tennessee law) |
| Distillation method | filtering through sugar maple charcoal before maturation |
| Cask type | new charred American white oak barrels |
| Alcohol (% vol.) | 40% ABV (80 proof) |
How it connects to Spirits
🥃 Jack Daniel’s Old No. 7 → kind of → 🥃 Whisky → kind of → 🥃 Spirits
Links
- Packed in
- 🍷 Barrel toasting, 🐝 American white oak
- What is made from it
- 🥃 Jack Daniel's Tennessee Honey, 🥃 Jack Daniel's Tennessee Fire, 🥃 Jack Daniel's Tennessee Apple, 🥃 Jack Daniel's Tennessee Blackberry
- Made from
- 🥃 Rye and corn in whisky
- What it contains
- 🍷 Ethanol
- What it affects
- 🍷 Alcohol and health, 🍷 Drunk driving
- Traditions
- 🧑🤝🧑 Americans
- Part of
- 🥃 Jack Daniel's, 🥃 Whisky
- Related to
- 🌍 North America
- Similar and different
- 🥃 Jack Daniel’s Gentleman Jack, 🥃 Jack Daniel’s Gentleman Jack, 🥃 Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel Select, 🥃 Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Rye, 🥃 Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel Select, 🥃 Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Rye, 🥃 Jack Daniel's Bonded, 🥃 Bourbon whiskey
Frequently asked questions
Is it true that Old No. 7 is bourbon?
The label says Tennessee Whiskey. Tennessee law sets the basic bourbon requirements but adds production within the state and filtering through maple charcoal.
Where does the name No. 7 come from?
According to Difford’s Guide, Jack gave it in 1887, and the reason is unknown; there are several legends, including one about seven barrels for an exhibition in 1904.
What is the strength of Old No. 7?
40% ABV (80 proof). Previously 40, 43 and 45% were sold in different countries.
What to read next
- 🥃 Jack Daniel's Tennessee Honey — A Jack Daniel's drink: Tennessee whiskey with a honey liqueur of the brand's own making; 35% ABV (70 proof), launched in 2011.
- 🍷 Alcohol and health — Alcohol in any drink is harmful in large amounts, and the risks grow with the quantity.
- 🍷 Ethanol — The alcohol formed during fermentation that makes you drunk.
- 🥃 Bourbon whiskey — American whiskey from a mash of at least 51% corn, stored in new charred oak barrels and bottled at 40% ABV or more.
- 🌍 North America — US and Canada: 9.5 million US cows gave 232 billion lb of milk (2025); Wisconsin makes a quarter of US cheese; Canada runs on dairy quotas.
Similar
🥃 Jack Daniel’s Gentleman Jack · 🥃 Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel Select · 🥃 Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Rye · 🥃 Jack Daniel's Single Barrel Barrel Proof · 🥃 Jack Daniel's Tennessee Honey · 🥃 Jack Daniel's Tennessee Fire
⚠️ Spirit drinks contain alcohol and are for adults only. Alcohol harms health. Do not drink during pregnancy or before driving; check the label for ingredients and possible allergens.
Sources
- Difford's Guide: Jack Daniel's Old No.7 Brand (40 %, named No. 7 in 1887, standardised at 40 % in 2010)
- Brown-Forman: Jack Daniel's (range: Old No. 7, Gentleman Jack, Single Barrel Select, Tennessee Rye; Gentleman Jack 80 proof / 40 %)
- Jack Daniel's press room: Products (proof, charcoal mellowing, Gentleman Jack mellowed twice, Single Barrel 94 proof, Rye grain bill)
- Tennessee Code Ann. § 57-2-106 «Tennessee Whiskey» (Public Chapter 341, signed 13.05.2013)
- WHO/Europe: No level of alcohol consumption is safe for our health (04.01.2023)