We have to discuss cinnamon whiskey. I do know, I do know, for those who’re studying The Whiskey Wash, you’re in all probability not the man or gal down on the membership ordering rounds of Fireball photographs for you and your 20 closest pals. (Or hey, possibly you might be? No judgment right here.)
However even for those who’d fairly completely shelve your Glencairn than sully it with cinnamon-flavored whiskey, the stuff is perhaps impacting you all the identical. Fireball and different cinnamon whiskies are one of many hottest segments in spirits, and a few of your favourite manufacturers are scheming about tips on how to get in on the occasion.
The Progress Of The Cinnamon Whiskey Class
In 2011, Fireball had lower than $2 million in annual gross sales. Due to a social media blitz and nationwide advertising and marketing marketing campaign, gross sales grew to $63 million in 2013 and a whopping $130 million in 2014, a median annual development charge of about 184%. Based on Statista.com, Fireball bought round 7.2 million 9-liter circumstances in the US in 2-22/
This development led even straight-faced whiskey trade leaders like Jim Beam and Jack Daniel’s to introduce new sweetened, cinnamon-flavored whiskies to the market in an effort to compete with the Fireball juggernaut.
Whereas Fireball and its knockoffs are clearly not the selection of connoisseurs, their recognition amongst youthful drinkers would possibly level to future development within the whiskey section. Chris Fletcher from Jack Daniels thinks of flavored whiskey as a gateway drink, telling us “At the moment’s Tennessee Honey drinker will hopefully be tomorrow’s Previous No. 7 Drinker.” So scoff at Fireball all you need, however it might be initiating the subsequent era’s whiskey drinkers into the fold (maybe “hazing” is a greater phrase).
Cinnamon Whiskey Overview Spherical-Up
In a spirit of scientific inquiry, I put my tastebuds on the road and tasted 5 totally different bottles of cinnamon-flavored whiskey (you’re welcome). I’ll be sincere – it was a slog, particularly after tasting the entire Previous Rip Van Winkle bourbons instantly beforehand. (By the way, each manufacturers – Previous Rip Van Winkle and Fireball – are owned by Sazerac. Speak about diversified!)
All 5 acknowledged someplace on the label “finest served chilled,” so I caught these bottles within the fridge for an hour or two earlier than imbibing. Frankly, they may have been loads colder. As spirits get hotter, flavors are amplified, and there aren’t many flavors in these whiskeys you need to expertise any greater than you must.
A observe on scores: If I had been to charge these on a 0-5 scale, all would are available in at zero, and that’s not a lot enjoyable to learn. So I ranked these so as of least to most favourite, with least favourite coming in at quantity 5.
fifth Place: Yukon Jack Depraved Scorching
BUY NOW: $6
Oh, Yukon Jack – don’t hold up your gold pan simply but. This launch from Diageo marks the nadir of my tasting expertise. The nostril jogs my memory of the lumber division at House Depot – musky, musty sawdust coupled with a little bit of painter’s putty. On the palate, it’s even worse (it doesn’t even actually style secure to drink, to be sincere). It’s aggressively spicy with an extended, horrible end paying homage to these little balsa wooden mannequin airplanes, all uncooked wooden and pastime glue. The worst of the bunch, fingers down.
4th Place: Fireball Cinnamon Whiskey
BUY NOW: $10
The undisputed king of cinnamon-flavored sorta-whiskies. The again label reads: “What you have got right here is clean whisky with a fiery kick of purple scorching cinnamon. It tastes like heaven, burns like hell. What occurs subsequent is as much as you.”
If it had been as much as me, what would occur subsequent is upending this bottle straight into the kitchen sink. Fireball has an intensely chemical aroma that smells identical to the grape-scented blue Mr. Sketch marker. On the palate, it’s distressingly viscous and alarmingly candy, with little or no in the way in which of whiskey taste. The cinnamon taste is average however constructing, accompanied by a touch of anemic inexperienced apple within the end. An on the spot headache.
third Place: Jack Daniels Tennessee Fireplace
BUY NOW: $20
I used to be hopeful about this one. Jack Daniel’s is a superb historic distillery that makes merchandise with integrity – maybe their cinnamon whiskey would have extra to supply than the others.
Alas. Jack Daniels Tennessee Fireplace has a wierd medicinal odor with a touch of elderflower, an aroma many discover unpleasantly much like cat urine. The palate is a slight enchancment over the nostril, though the mouth really feel is unusually dusty, like taking a chew of straight powdered cinnamon. As a substitute of a lot spice or warmth within the end, there’s only a grim metallic bitterness.
2nd Place: SinFire Cinnamon Whiskey
BUY NOW: $16
SinFire is made by Hood River Distillers, an nearly 100-year-old regional distillery in Hood River identified for its huge collection of bottom-shelf choices. I didn’t count on loads from SinFire, so it was good to seek out out that my expectations had been (form of) exceeded.
SinFire has the purest cinnamon aroma of all 5, precisely like a mixture of Atomic Fireballs and Scorching Tamales. The flavour is mercifully transient, with an extended, comparatively spicy aftertaste full with a touch of grape Jello within the end. Reasonably inoffensive. I’m going to name this a home-state win.
1st Place: Jim Beam Kentucky Fireplace
BUY NOW: $16
Can Jim Beam, one other nice whiskey distillery, be the savior of the cinnamon-flavored class? Encouragingly, the reply is: kind of!
Jim Beam Kentucky Fireplace was my favourite of the bunch, for no matter that’s value. The aroma jogs my memory of a craft rye whiskey, maybe a bit inexpertly made, with a superb punch of cinnamon in addition to a form of vegetal funk. Within the palate, there’s beeswax and a gentle suggestion of cinnamon spice that builds within the end.
Of the 5, this one tastes essentially the most like whiskey, albeit not superb whiskey. However kudos to Jim Beam (I suppose) for making the cinnamon whiskey that made me really feel the least like barfing.
In Conclusion
Ingesting 5 cinnamon-flavored whiskeys one after the opposite actually made me really feel unhappy concerning the state of the world. By a quickly constructing headache, I puzzled – is that this what we’ve come to as a nation of drinkers? We really choose a beverage that tastes like a melted gummy sweet over any one of many actually 1000’s of fantastic spirits, beers, and wines on the market, all made with care, simply ready to boost our lives if we’d solely allow them to? What does that say about us, as a individuals? Is it too late to vary route, or are we doomed to a way forward for ever-sweeter, ever-grapier concoctions designed to ship the drinker’s equal of a Halloween night time sugar rush?
I don’t know the reply to any of those questions, however for those who’re available in the market for 5 principally full bottles of cinnamon-flavored whiskey, I do know anyone trying to unload just a few.
This evaluation was initially printed in Might 2016, and up to date in December 2024.
