ModernThirst
    Facebook Twitter Instagram
    ModernThirst
    • HOME
    • News & Views
      1. Podcasts
      2. Videos
      3. Events
      4. Links
      Featured

      Four Gate Whiskey Announces Release 15.1, 15.2, & 15.3: The Bluegrass Trilogy

      By BillNovember 30, 20210
      Recent

      Four Gate Whiskey Announces Release 15.1, 15.2, & 15.3: The Bluegrass Trilogy

      November 30, 2021

      Old Forester 21st Release of Annual Birthday Bourbon

      August 24, 2021

      Press Release: Old Forester’s Next Release in the 117 Series Features a Blend of Barrels Aged Solely in Warehouse K 

      August 20, 2021
    • Bourbon & Whiskey
      • Bourbon and Whiskey Reviews
      • Bourbon and Whiskey Mash Bills
      • Bourbon Information & Resources
      • All Whiskey Content
        • Bourbon
        • Rye Whiskey
        • Scotch
        • Irish Whisky
      • Distillery Visits/Kentucky Bourbon Trail
    • Food, Beer, & Lifestyle
      • Pepperheads: Hot Sauce
      • Lifestyle & Features
      • Cocktail Corner
      • Food
      • Barware
      • Other Distilled Spirits
      • All Beer Content
      • Recipes
    • Hot Sauce
    • Shop
    • About Us
      • About Us
      • Patrons and Supporters
      • Sample Policy
      • Get in touch with ModernThirst
      • Advertise with ModernThirst
    ModernThirst
    Bourbon/Whiskey Reviews

    George Dickel 17 Year Tennessee Whiskey Review

    BillBy BillAugust 25, 2016Updated:September 8, 20167 Comments4 Mins Read

    George Dickel 17 Year

    77 Fail.

    Watery and flavorless, this $75 half bottle is a complete miss by the folks at George Dickel, and should have gone into batches of their regular production whiskey rather than into overpriced souvenirs at the gift shop.

    We recently hosted some friends at the ModernThirst compound to try the new Ghost Barrel and other assorted whiskeys, and were pleasantly surprised when one of our guests, @DosterJohn, brought along a surprise.  George Dickel 17 year old Tennessee Whiskey.  He allowed me to taste the whiskey and keep the bottle for photos and full review.  Who am I to complain about free whiskey, especially when it’s 17 years old?

    George Dickel 17 Year Vital Stats
    Dickel 17 005
    ◾Mash Bill: 84% Corn, 8% Rye, 8% Malted Barley
    ◾Produced by: George Dickel, Cascade Hollow, TN. (Diageo)
    ◾Proof: 87º, (43.5% ABV)
    ◾Age: 17 Years
    ◾Price: $75.375 ML
    ◾Availability: Available at The George Dickel Gift Shop and selected liquor stores

    What it is:glencairn-amazon

    Simply put, this is 17 year old Tennessee Whiskey that was supposedly “accidentally” found in the back of a warehouse.  Now, before anyone gets all crazy on that, remember that Dickel is a Diageo brand, and this isn’t the first time we’ve heard of them “discovering” lost barrels of extraordinary age in their warehouses (*COUGH* Orphan Barrel *COUGH*).  So don’t buy that story.  They knew it was there, as they paid taxes on them every year.  They may not have known what to do with them, or may not have taken notice of them for a while, but they weren’t “lost” and certainly  weren’t “accidentally” discovered.  Note to Diageo: cut it out with the BS stories.  Just give us the whiskey.  But that’s all beside the point.  This is 17 years old, and bottled at 43.5% alcohol by volume, which works out to 87 proof.  It’s sold in the gift shop and a few select liquor stores in that area, and is $75 for a 375 ML bottle.

    What is Tennessee Whiskey, you ask?

    Good question.  It’s Straight Whiskey produced in Tennessee and uses the Lincoln County Process of filtering through (or soaking in) charcoal prior to aging to help kick start the aging process.

    Packaging:

    Dickel 17 003

    This is a nice little bottle.  It’s only 375 ML, which means that $75 price tag is only getting you half a bottle.  But it’s attractive.

    Appearance:

    Dickel 17 013

    Dark and murky, this looks every bit its age, despite the relatively low bottling proof.

    Aroma:

    Oak and caramel are evident here. It’s sweet and woody in a way that I last got from the Harper 15, another Diageo product, though there shouldn’t’ be any production or aging connections there as Harper 15 was distilled in Louisville at the Bernheim distillery and aged in Kentucky.  Nevertheless, it’s a sweet smell with hints of plum and dark fruit on the tail end.

    Taste:Dickel 17 004

    Shockingly, very little of that aroma carries through to the palate.  By that, I mean it’s absolute water on the first third of the tongue.  Nothing at all.  Not even alcohol.  The back of the tongue gets a little overblown oak and a hint of vanilla, but the lack of, well, anything on the first half of the palate is so strange that I figured my taste buds must have been singed by the 120 proof Ghost Barrel we were drinking, so I set this aside to try again a couple days later.

    …And wound up with the same result.  Even drinking this first on the night, there’s absolutely nothing on the front of the palate.  Hugely disappointing.

    Finish:

    Again, with so little flavor on the palate, it’s difficult to say this is anything but a frighteningly short finish.  There is some oak and age on the tail, but that’s a very minor sensation, and at only 87 proof, it doesn’t even have the alcohol levels to give a decent burn.

    Synopsis:

    One of the most disappointing whiskeys I’ve tried in a couple years.  First, I expected more from Dickel.  I don’t have a ton of experience with their products, but what I have tried has been rock solid thus far.  But second, this is flavorless with a massive disconnect between the nose and the palate that is unforgivable in what amounts to a $150 bottle, if my math serves.

    I even asked the gentleman who brought the bottle his thoughts, and he was clear he had the same experience and had wanted to see if I agreed.

    I was so thrown off by this that I tried it a third time.  This time I tried it with water, over ice, etc.  Nothing.  I looked around online and was absolutely floored by the overwhelmingly positive reviews I’ve seen from other writers.  I can’t see it.  This is a huge whiff by Dickel, and you’re better served spending your money on almost anything else.

    ModernThirst.com score: 77 out of 100.

    What does this score mean?

     

    Facebook Comments
    Previous ArticleGet Ready, Old Forester fans! 2 releases coming up!
    Next Article Wild Turkey Rare Breed 112.8° Bourbon Review
    Bill
    • Website
    • Facebook
    • Twitter

    Bill is the Co-Founder, Editor-in Chief, and official Bourbon-o-Phile for ModernThirst.com, and Founder and Chief Blending Officer for Four Gate Whiskey Company. He is a native of Louisville, KY in the heart of Bourbon Country. He attended the University of Kentucky in the mid to late 1990s. He has also been published on Liquor.com. He has conducted various bourbon and whiskey tastings in cities across the country, and consulted for multiple national labels. He is married with two daughters, and lives in east Louisville. You can follow him on Facebook and Twitter @BillStraub and email him at Bill@ModernThirst.com.

    Related Posts

    Four Gate Whiskey Announces Release 15.1, 15.2, & 15.3: The Bluegrass Trilogy

    November 30, 2021

    Old Forester 21st Release of Annual Birthday Bourbon

    August 24, 2021

    Press Release: Old Forester’s Next Release in the 117 Series Features a Blend of Barrels Aged Solely in Warehouse K 

    August 20, 2021

    7 Comments

    1. Scott on March 4, 2017 1:51 am

      This is a bullshit review. This website is obviously not competent to give opinion on decent bourbon. If I had to give Dickel 17YR any criticism, it’s probly not worth the high-dollar asking price. It’s a high corn mashbill, but a damn decent bourbon. Seriously, drink up. The “piss water” review above is joke… and I’ve drank the best bourbons around.

      Reply
    2. Dan S on October 15, 2017 11:38 am

      Just opened my bottle and can confirm the reviewer is clueless. I shared it with 2 Scots who both found it to have excellent character and flavor.

      Reply
      • Bill on October 15, 2017 12:07 pm

        Scots? Wow. That changes everything.

        Reply
    3. Ron on December 11, 2017 2:54 am

      I tried it last week and found it excellent. If you think it is light on the tongue remember it is Tennessee whiskey, lots of charcoal filtering.

      Reply
    4. Matthew on September 22, 2018 2:52 pm

      It’s a good whiskey as far as American products go. Haig Club, that is a watery whiskey. GD17 has a moderate to light mouthfeel but certainly not a light flavor. It blossoms like Nevarra Cognac however, the flavors are nothing new until the finish. Classic caramel, a little spice like smoke-pickled peppercorns, and vanilla. All things we would expect from time in new American white oak. The finish however is a breath of fresh air almost airing on menthol. Not overwhelming but nearly unique to the class of spirit.
      It’s a unique product and a quality of flavor not commonly found in bourbons let along Tennessee whiskey.
      I hope people reading can find this comment and a nip of this whiskey. It’s a pleasure to drink.

      For the record, yes, saying it was found is a lowball sell; but it’s Diageo… they always say they found their whiskey.

      Reply
    5. Jamie Wadkins on December 10, 2019 2:44 pm

      I couldn’t disagree with the author more. GD17 is probably my favorite TN whiskey and is worth the 75 price tag even for the smaller bottle. I would highly recommend purchasing this if you get the opportunity.

      Reply
    6. MD on December 31, 2020 12:04 am

      Just now opened my bottle (12/30/20) that i got a few years ago. Found it to be one of the best TN whiskey ive had. Totally disagree with this review.

      Reply

    Leave A Reply Cancel Reply

    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    Shop
    Bourbon/Whiskey Reviews

    © 2020 ModernThirst. Please be responsible. Don’t drink and drive.

    © 2020 ModernThirst. Please be responsible. Don't drink and drive.

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.