With tequila, the most important consideration is whether it's made with 100% blue agave juice; it will say that on the label. I don't drink gin, so can't help you with that. Our former Spanish exchange student's parents gave us a bottle of Spanish aging brandy years ago. I only use it for making sangria.
I am trying to keep a stock of the most common alcohols in my pantry but since I don't know much about drinks I am wondering what are the good brands for the following liquors:
Brandy
Gin
Tequila
Jeff G said:On a technical note--Jack Daniels is NOT Bourbon. It's sour mash whiskey..
Actually, all bourbons are sour mash whiskeys, the process where some of the backset (from the previous distillation) is added to the new mash. Jack Daniel's and Geroge Dickel are (sour mash) Tennessee Whiskeys due to the "Lynchburg Process" where the wiskey is charcoal filtered prior to barreling which technically prohibits them from being a bourbon.
So the spent mash is "sour mash"... I wasn't sure about that. I have to say I drink mainly single barrel bourbons. I am not fond of Jack Daniels.. Just doesn't taste right to me..
GD is great, Makers Mark is usually on the shelf too. For basic mixing, Good ol' Jim Beam isn't bad. The black label (8yr old), is quite nice.Yes, as much as 25% (usually less) of back set is added to the new mash. Every distiller has their own formular. It helps to create a continuity from mash to mash. Through reputation, and excellent Marketing strategies JD is probably the Number One selling American whiskey in the world! It's certainly not because of taste! (IMHO) The Black Label whiskey has quietly gone from 90 proof to 86 proof to it's current 80 proof, while retail prices have quietly gone up along with all whiskeys. It smells and taste of shellac to me. If I want a quality Tennessee Whiskey it is always George Dickle 12...which is always in my bunker along with numerous Bourbons.