How Do You Know If A Bottle Of Jack Is Genuine ?

[chrisinth]

Good point about the seal. Also check that it has the plastic 'pourer' inserted into the neck of the bottle; I have seen many without this, but they were coming in from Burma.

Far as I remember that 'plastic 'pourer'' is required by Thai law. In my country they don't have them also. Barowners who use non drips hate them.

Yep that's true! We used to put the Jack on an optic, getting the metal band which holds the pourer off is hazardous to say the least. When it eventually breaks, it goes off like a spring, with extremely sharp edges.

[GottaGo]

I can't believe that anyone that actually enjoys their Jack wouldn't spot the fake with the first sip.

If you can't tell the difference - or are mixing it with Coke (gag!!) you don't deserve to be drinking it, just buy lao khao.

[lomatopo]

I bought a bottle of JD at the big shop between Immigration posts on the Thai/Burma Border for ฿495.00,

Fake. But can be used to kill varmints, remove paint, blind guests.

[jbrain]

Good point about the seal. Also check that it has the plastic 'pourer' inserted into the neck of the bottle; I have seen many without this, but they were coming in from Burma.

Far as I remember that 'plastic 'pourer'' is required by Thai law. In my country they don't have them also. Barowners who use non drips hate them.

The pourer isn't required by Thai law since some brands will have it while others don't. The companies who have it do it as a protection against their bottles been refilled with a cheaper product.

It are mostly the more expensive brands who have that pourer, since the cheaper brands would probably love them bottles be refilled with a product better than the original.

[jbrain]

I can't believe that anyone that actually enjoys their Jack wouldn't spot the fake with the first sip.

If you can't tell the difference - or are mixing it with Coke (gag!!) you don't deserve to be drinking it, just buy lao khao.

So you think the premixed bottles of Jack Coke that are now available in the stores are produced by people who don't know how to appreciate a JD ?

[lomatopo]

So you think the premixed bottles of Jack Coke that are now available in the stores are produced by people who don't know how to appreciate a JD ?

Of course not. That sh*t is produced by people who want to make incremental revenue. Jack Daniels is swill anyway, adding coke or not, doesn't make it any better or worse. Maker's Mark, Blanton's or Knob Creek are much better versions of generally available, non-specialized southern bourbon/whiskey. I never understood the appeal of JD - too sweet for my taste - and I've been to the distillery in Lynchburg (road trip to the Master's in 1975).

[weegee]

This is the one to get....$38USD in sing a/port Duty free.

Smooth and genuine, a cut above Old No 7....

[weegee]

You keep talking about it, and I'll keep testing for you...

[lomatopo]

^ That's about the same price as in the U.S. (~ 30 USD), on sale, so seems legit at DF.

Descriptions/reviews make it sound even sweeter than regular JD? Twice 'maple-flavored' charcoal mellowed.

I think JD is a popular international brand, Brown-Forman is a gigantic profitable global corporation.

[HUAHIN62]

Check the label the letters are higher than the rest of the label. With fakes the letters are a flat print.

[vijer]

Well I hope you could trust Big-C and Lotus but you never know.

I think it would be very very hard to fake Jack the smell and taste are very distinctive. Jim Beam would be easier but not a drastically.

[rubberduck]

Snapshot_20130603.JPG

You keep talking about it, and I'll keep testing for you...

Did I just see white band around the perimeter of the glass ?

Please, keep testing !

So u has a bottle of the real stuff, yes ? Is there a batchnumber printed on the inside of the frontlabel ?

[Cardiff1963]

If it tastes like an imitation whisky, it could well be Jack

[weegee]

Snapshot_20130603.JPG

You keep talking about it, and I'll keep testing for you...

Did I just see white band around the perimeter of the glass ?

Please, keep testing !

So u has a bottle of the real stuff, yes ? Is there a batchnumber printed on the inside of the frontlabel ?

I am testing the bottle i put aside for our bet.....you better hurry up and get a Reply to your email...

[Wombat6]

Taste would be a dead giveaway with Jacks. Its the only thing they couldn't fake.

Isn't that right Weegee!

Wrong ?? They can make a flavouring that can be added to raw brewed alcohol that makes it taste exactly the same

[Donnie Brasco]

Impression of 'fake in China'... amazing !

link and here are the fake cars, even Bentlys...

And... fake McDonalds are everywhere !

Forget fake Bentley's. They actually make fake eggs by hand--shells, yolks, and all--and can make a profit at it! http://singaporeseen.stomp.com.sg/stomp/sgseen/what_bugs_me/528170/watch_how_china_workers_make_fake_eggs.html

Fake eggs !?!?

Hell, that's nothing.

The Thais have been doing fake chicks for ages.

[weegee]

oooops....looks like rubberduck, didnt get his email.

[sunlong]

Wrong ?? They can make a flavouring that can be added to raw brewed alcohol that makes it taste exactly the same

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I'm not buying it - in other words I'm calling BS.

At least not to someone that likes the stuff and drinks it regularly, no way.

Otherwise that's how Brown-Forman would make it, why go to all the trouble of the old-fashioned method?

[chiangmaikelly]

Wrong ?? They can make a flavouring that can be added to raw brewed alcohol that makes it taste exactly the same

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I'm not buying it - in other words I'm calling BS.

At least not to someone that likes the stuff and drinks it regularly, no way.

Otherwise that's how Brown-Forman would make it, why go to all the trouble of the old-fashioned method?

You can buy the flavorings. People who make moonshine use them. They are made somewhere outside of the USA. They are made by a spirits chemist. They are made for every large selling brand of whiskey or whisky. You may ask why I know this. I used them to marinate beef and make other food products. Jack Daniels also makes sauces and I would imagine they don't use the whiskey to make the BBQ sauces.

[weegee]

Wrong ?? They can make a flavouring that can be added to raw brewed alcohol that makes it taste exactly the same

-

I'm not buying it - in other words I'm calling BS.

At least not to someone that likes the stuff and drinks it regularly, no way.

Otherwise that's how Brown-Forman would make it, why go to all the trouble of the old-fashioned method?

You can buy the flavorings. People who make moonshine use them. They are made somewhere outside of the USA. They are made by a spirits chemist. They are made for every large selling brand of whiskey or whisky. You may ask why I know this. I used them to marinate beef and make other food products. Jack Daniels also makes sauces and I would imagine they don't use the whiskey to make the BBQ sauces.

I'll keep testing and let you know.....

[rene123]

I think you can tell by the label

[weegee]

I think you can tell by the label

I notice the bottle is empty Rene.....

[chrisinth]

^^^^^^^^^

Ooops! Wrong bottle....................

[sunlong]

You can buy the flavorings. People who make moonshine use them. They are made somewhere outside of the USA. They are made by a spirits chemist. They are made for every large selling brand of whiskey or whisky. You may ask why I know this. I used them to marinate beef and make other food products. Jack Daniels also makes sauces and I would imagine they don't use the whiskey to make the BBQ sauces.

-

I'm not saying the flavorings don't exist, and obviously BF makes their own.

I'm saying there's no way any substance can simply be added to raw alcohol to create a counterfeit JD that would fool a fan of the genuine article.

IMO most likely true for any quality whiskey or whisky.

[chiangmaikelly]

You can buy the flavorings. People who make moonshine use them. They are made somewhere outside of the USA. They are made by a spirits chemist. They are made for every large selling brand of whiskey or whisky. You may ask why I know this. I used them to marinate beef and make other food products. Jack Daniels also makes sauces and I would imagine they don't use the whiskey to make the BBQ sauces.

-

I'm not saying the flavorings don't exist, and obviously BF makes their own.

I'm saying there's no way any substance can simply be added to raw alcohol to create a counterfeit JD that would fool a fan of the genuine article.

IMO most likely true for any quality whiskey or whisky.

Most people mix Jack with something. A lot of people mix it with coke. Adding ice makes it hard to taste. Adding water makes it hard to taste. Having 3 drinks makes it hard to taste. It's all in your head..... Ask someone in the bar business.

[lomatopo]

I'm saying there's no way any substance can simply be added to raw alcohol to create a counterfeit JD that would fool a fan of the genuine article.

Most retail liquor outlets discourage sampling prior to purchase.

Plus you'd really need the genuine article on hand to do a side-by-side test.

And as is evident from the posts on this thread, people mix their "Jacque Danielles" with some sickly sweet, brown high-fructose corn syrupy carbonated concoction so doubt the "charcoal mellowed" taste is apparent. Not a lot of branch water here I guess.

There's a reason most tastings are done "blind" - and I don't mean a permanent loss of vision from drinking adulterated alcohol - and labels are hidden. Seeing a label. even if it says "Black Labial" can greatly influence even the most seasoned tasters. But I think its the alcoholics who see a bottle of Jack at some market in Cambodia for $6 and swear they're getting a great deal. No need to burst their bubble, better to let them savor the flavor.

[sunlong]

The claim I'm disputing is that this alcohol+flavoring would (by itself) taste exactly like the real thing (by iteself).

Is anyone really trying to defend that claim?

And it's besides the point, but IMO anyone who's actually a fan of JD wouldn't mix it with anything but a little soda or water, obviously best neat.

Even further OT, I shared a liter bottle with a friend from Texas, matching shot for shot about two hours before high school graduation ceremonies. He never made it, drove a porcelain bus in the gym locker room while his parents (having made a 2000 mile trip) searched for him.

I don't remember, but my folks never mentioned it, so maybe I actually passed OK. . .

[sunlong]

Most retail liquor outlets discourage sampling prior to purchase.

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Yes, but getting burnt once-off is NBD is it.

For repeat purchases, once you've found a reliable source then you're safe.

I was just trying to answer the OP's concern, perhaps the packaging, raised lettering etc is good enough to spot the fakes before wasting any money, maybe not, IMO the taste test the only reliable indicator (for me).

And you're right for those that don't have the taste, experience etc to use that, or adulterating the nectar with Coke or whatever then it doesn't matter.

Except for the fact that you can die I suppose if you care about that. . .

[lomatopo]

The claim I'm disputing is that this alcohol+flavoring would (by itself) taste exactly like the real thing (by iteself).

Is anyone really trying to defend that claim?

No one is defending any claim.

I think one could probably come up with a flavor profile (vanilla, butterscotch, oak, caramel, licorice are some of the descriptors people use for JD - all of which are available for industrial food production) that comes close to JD, which would fool most alchies, given enough time and resources.

But that's not really what we're discussing here. Obviously these folks "distilling" fake booze are aiming for a color - god only knows what they're using for tastes and alcohol. You can't taste your "Black Labial" prior to purchase. After purchase, people probably don't want to admit they purchased fake booze.

It has already been recommended to purchase from a reliable, reputable source, paying fair market value. Common sense, probably not possessed in abundance by budget-oriented alcoholics, should be a good guide. "Hmmm, I wonder how this bottle of Dack Janiels ended up here in Burma, selling for less than half what it costs at home, or in the duty free?"

[chrisinth]

The claim I'm disputing is that this alcohol+flavoring would (by itself) taste exactly like the real thing (by iteself).

Is anyone really trying to defend that claim?

And it's besides the point, but IMO anyone who's actually a fan of JD wouldn't mix it with anything but a little soda or water, obviously best neat.

Even further OT, I shared a liter bottle with a friend from Texas, matching shot for shot about two hours before high school graduation ceremonies. He never made it, drove a porcelain bus in the gym locker room while his parents (having made a 2000 mile trip) searched for him.

I don't remember, but my folks never mentioned it, so maybe I actually passed OK. . .

It is based on recipes! I agree, alcohol and flavouring would not work. However, add a few different ingredients and put it through the distilling process again until you get it tasting as near as possible to the real deal, then you have a recipe that can be repeated. R & D!

It is similar in a way to making a cocktail. The ingredients and measures for the cocktail are public knowledge, so when you ask for say, a Singapore sling, you will get the same (or very similar) tasting drink every time where ever you order it.

Distilling Spirits is kept a secret.....................

Edit: Marketing their product as close as possible to the real thing is ultra important as well, some peoples eyes are bigger than their bellies.