Jack Daniel’s cider is an apple cider produced by the Jack Daniel Distillery, which is best known for its Tennessee whiskey. The cider was launched in 2016 and is made from apples grown near the distillery in Lynchburg, Tennessee.
As an apple cider, the primary ingredients in Jack Daniel’s cider are apples, water, and yeast. However, there are some additional ingredients used to provide flavoring and color to the final product. In this article, we will take a detailed look at all of the ingredients that go into making Jack Daniel’s cider.
Apples
The main ingredient in Jack Daniel’s cider is apples. According to the company, they use a blend of apples grown near the distillery including Fuji, Rome, Golden Delicious, and Granny Smith.
Apples form the base that provides the cider’s sweetness, acidity, tannins, and body. By blending several varieties of apples, Jack Daniel’s is able to create a balanced cider that has the desired flavor profile.
The apples are washed, chopped, milled into apple pomace, and pressed to extract the sweet apple juice prior to fermentation. This apple juice becomes the cider base.
Water
The second major component in Jack Daniel’s cider is water. The water used is the same cave spring water from the Hollow in Lynchburg that the distillery uses for its whiskey.
This mineral-rich water helps provide some of the character and profile to the cider that makes it recognizable as a Jack Daniel’s product. The water dilutes the apple juice to the desired sweetness and alcohol levels.
Yeast
In order to transform the apple juice into alcoholic cider, yeast is added to ferment the sugars naturally present in the juice. This process converts the sugars into alcohol and carbon dioxide.
Jack Daniel’s has not specified what type of yeast is used in their cider-making process. However, it is likely a wine or champagne yeast strain that can withstand higher alcohol levels. The yeast, along with the fermentation conditions, impact the final flavor and mouthfeel of the cider.
Other Ingredients
In addition to the core ingredients of apples, water and yeast, Jack Daniel’s cider contains some additional ingredients for flavoring, coloring, and processing.
Flavors
To give Jack Daniel’s cider its distinctive flavor profile, natural flavors are added to the mix. These likely include flavors like cinnamon, clove, allspice and vanilla which are reminiscent of Jack Daniel’s Old No. 7 Tennessee Whiskey.
Extracts from oak barrels may also be used to impart some of that signature whiskey barrel aging flavor. The exact combination of flavors is proprietary to Jack Daniel’s.
Colors
The cider gets its warm amber color from the addition of caramel color. This is a very common additive in ciders and beers that provides an appealing coloration.
Other potential colorants include annatto extract and burnt sugar. These natural ingredients help deepen the color and provide reddish-brown hues.
Preservatives
To extend the shelf life of the cider and prevent spoilage from bacteria or wild yeasts, preservatives are used.
Potassium sorbate is commonly added to halt fermentation at the desired residual sugar level. Sulfur dioxide in the form of potassium metabisulfite helps prevent oxidation and bacterial growth.
Mouthfeel Enhancers
The use of glycerol and carrageenan helps improve the viscosity, body, and mouthfeel of Jack Daniel’s Cider. These compounds help provide a smooth, creamy texture.
Glycerol is a natural byproduct of the fermentation process, while carrageenan is commonly derived from seaweed.
Nutritional Information
Here is the nutritional information for a 12oz serving of Jack Daniel’s Cider according to the company:
Nutrition Facts
| Serving Size | 12 fl oz |
| Calories | 228 |
| Protein | 0g |
| Carbohydrates | 36g |
| Sugars | 31g |
| Fat | 0g |
As you can see, the main nutrients in Jack Daniel’s Cider come from the apple juice which provides sugars and carbohydrates. A 12oz serving contains 228 calories. There is minimal fat or protein.
The significant sugar content results in a sweet, applie flavor along with the alcohol that is produced from the yeast fermentation.
Ingredient Analysis
Now that we’ve looked at all of the major and minor ingredients in Jack Daniel’s Cider, let’s summarize the key components:
Primary Ingredients
- Apples – provides sugar, acidity, tannins, and flavor
- Water – adds characteristic minerality
- Yeast – converts sugars into alcohol and carbon dioxide
Additional Ingredients
- Natural flavors – cinnamon, clove, oak barrel extract
- Colors – caramel, annatto, burnt sugar
- Preservatives – potassium sorbate, sulfur dioxide
- Mouthfeel enhancers – glycerol, carrageenan
This combination of ingredients comes together to create the sweet, smooth, and warming flavor profile that makes Jack Daniel’s Cider stand out as a unique twisted take on classic apple cider. The blend of apples, spices, and oak barrel character give it crossover appeal for whiskey and cider lovers.
How Jack Daniel’s Cider is Made
Now that we know what goes into Jack Daniel’s Cider, let’s briefly look at how it is produced:
Apple Blending
Apples are harvested from the orchards near the Jack Daniel’s distillery in Tennessee. They use a blend of apple varieties like Fuji, Rome, Golden Delicious, and Granny Smith.
Washing and Milling
The apples are thoroughly washed and chopped into pomace before pressing.
Pressing
The chopped apples are pressed to extract the sweet apple juice which will form the cider base.
Fermentation
The apple juice is fermented with yeast which converts sugars into alcohol and carbon dioxide to make cider.
Aging
The cider is aged in stainless steel tanks to allow flavors to meld.
Blend and Flavor
The cider is filtered and blended before flavors, colors, and conditioners are added.
Bottling
The finished cider is bottled, packaged, and shipped out for sale.
Quality Control and Food Safety
As an established, large-scale cider producer, Jack Daniel’s has strict quality control and food safety processes in place during cider production including:
- Careful inspection and sorting of apples to remove damaged or spoiled fruit
- Washing, sanitizing, and sterilization of equipment
- Testing and regulation of fermentation conditions
- Microbiological testing for pathogens
- Sensory evaluation of flavors
- Use of commercial preservatives and sanitizers
- Worker safety protocols on the production line
These controls ensure both the safety and consistent quality of Jack Daniel’s Cider across different production batches.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some common questions about the ingredients in Jack Daniel’s Cider:
Is Jack Daniel’s Cider gluten-free?
Yes, Jack Daniel’s Cider is gluten-free as it is produced from apples and does not contain any gluten-containing grains.
Does Jack Daniel’s Cider contain sulfites?
Yes, Jack Daniel’s cider contains sulfites in the form of sulfur dioxide used as a preservative. Sulfites may cause issues for some people with sensitivities.
Is Jack Daniel’s Cider vegan?
While the core ingredients are vegan, Jack Daniel’s Cider likely cannot be considered fully vegan due to the use of fining agents derived from fish bladders or eggs in the processing.
What is the calorie and sugar content in Jack Daniel’s Cider?
A 12oz serving of Jack Daniel’s Cider contains 228 calories and 31g of sugar. The high sugar content comes from the apples.
Does Jack Daniel’s Cider contain any whiskey?
No, Jack Daniel’s Cider is not made from whiskey. It’s made from apples, but with flavors added to emulate the Jack Daniel’s whiskey profile.
Conclusion
Jack Daniel’s Cider is made from a straightforward but carefully crafted blend of apples, water, yeast, flavors, colors and conditioners. The quality apples provide the base sweetness and fermentable sugars. Yeast ferments the cider, while supplemental flavors like oak, vanilla, and spices mimic Jack Daniel’s Old No. 7 whiskey. A variety of natural colors, mouthfeel enhancers, and preservatives finish off the cider. While the ingredients are relatively simple, it takes precise blending and balancing to achieve the desired taste and profile that makes Jack Daniel’s Cider unique. The production process builds upon Jack Daniel’s legacy of making high quality Tennessee whiskey. Their expertise in distillation and aging translates seamlessly into making this cider that both whiskey and cider aficionados can enjoy.