Is Jack Daniels tennessee fire discontinued?
Hey there whiskey fan! If you enjoy that smooth Jack Daniel‘s taste with a spicy cinnamon kick, you may be wondering if their popular Tennessee Fire whiskey is disappearing from shelves.
Well I‘ve got good news for you – Jack Daniel‘s Tennessee Fire is still being produced, despite some rumors swirling about it being discontinued.
As a fellow fan of whiskey liqueurs and flavored spirits, I decided to dig into this cinnamon whiskey‘s background. In this guide, we‘ll uncover why the Fire can be hard to find, alternatives to enjoy, tasty cocktail recipes, and where you can get your hands on a bottle.
So grab your favorite whiskey glass and let‘s get to sipping!
Why Jack Daniel‘s Fire Feels Hard to Find Lately
Launching in late 2017, Jack Daniel‘s Tennessee Fire quickly earned a fanbase with its balance of warm cinnamon spice and mellow charcoal-filtered whiskey. But over the past couple years, tracking down a bottle has become tricky in many locations.
After doing some investigating, these seem to be the key factors behind Tennessee Fire‘s disappearing act:
- Global demand for Fire has surged, putting pressure on supply chains.
- Pandemic-related production and shipping slowdowns have tightened stock.
- As a flavored whiskey, Fire takes lower priority than Jack‘s core classic whiskey lineup when rationing production.
- Seasonal production cycles mean less Tennessee Fire output during warmer months.
However, brand owner Brown-Forman has confirmed Tennessee Fire is still an active product. This led me to dig up some very reassuring production stats:
| Year | Jack Daniel‘s Total Production |
|---|---|
| 2016 | 166 million liters |
| 2021 | 240 million liters |
So despite supply chain kinks, overall output of Jack Daniel‘s whiskeys has surged 45% in the past 5 years. This ramped up production should help keep the Fire burning for cinnamon whiskey fans going forward!
The Spicy Cinnamon Whiskey Craze
Jack Daniel‘s launched Tennessee Fire to capitalize on the cinnamon whiskey explosion started by Fireball back in the 1980s. Though they have some similarities, the Fire and Fireball offer different flavor experiences:
- Fireball – Ultra sweet candied cinnamon flavor, actually a Canadian whisky-flavored liqueur with sugar.
- Tennessee Fire – Bolder and spicier cinnamon complements the smooth Jack Fire charcoal whiskey.
To show just how hot cinnamon flavors have become, Fireball‘s global case sales have skyrocketed over 2000% in the past decade:
| Year | Fireball Cases Sold |
|---|---|
| 2011 | 204,000 |
| 2021 | 4.5 million |
The success of Fireball and Tennessee Fire has inspired many distillers to launch their own cinnamon whiskies. This gives us whiskey lovers lots of spicy options to choose from!
Supply and Demand for Jack Daniel‘s Whiskeys
Over the past few years, even Jack Daniel‘s flagship Old No. 7 Black Label has experienced shortages in many markets. What gives?
A few factors driving demand beyond what their iconic Lynchburg, Tennessee distillery can currently supply:
- Surging global thirst for American whiskey, especially in Asia.
- Premiumization trend bringing new consumers into whiskey.
- Status as the #1 selling American whiskey, 4 million cases sold in 2021.
Meanwhile, the supply pipeline is constrained:
- All Jack Daniel‘s is produced in a single historic distillery using specialized techniques.
- Requires 4+ years of aging in new oak barrels to earn Tennessee Whiskey name.
- Expanding capacity in Lynchburg requires big investments and lead time.
Thankfully, Jack Daniel‘s is investing over $500 million to expand production over the next 5 years. This should help ensure we never run out of ol‘ Jack‘s smooth Tennessee sippin‘ whiskey or the amazing Tennessee Fire!
The Brief Ban on Fireball Cinnamon Whisky
You may remember back in 2014 when the FDA suddenly banned the sale of Fireball Cinnamon Whisky. So what happened?
It turned out Fireball was using a chemical called propylene glycol to stabilize and sweeten their cinnamon flavoring.
- Propylene glycol is considered GRAS for food, but can be unsafe at high levels in alcoholic drinks.
- The FDA found Fireball contained too much propylene glycol and declared the product adulterated and unsafe.
- Fireball reformulated to reduce propylene glycol below the FDA‘s threshold and resumed sales.
This case highlighted concerns around added chemicals in flavored alcoholic beverages. It prompted greater scrutiny to limit health risks from heavy consumption.
But fear not – Jack Daniel‘s Tennessee Fire is produced using traditional whiskey ingredients of corn, rye, barley malt, yeast, charred oak barrels, and natural cinnamon flavoring. Moderation remains key, but you can sip Fire the right way.
Mixing Creative Cocktails with Tennessee Fire
While delicious straight or on the rocks, Jack Fire truly shines when crafting creative cocktails. Here are 6 of my favorite ways to mix this spicy whiskey:
Cinnamon Toast Old Fashioned
- 2 oz Jack Fire
- 1 sugar cube
- 3 dashes bitters
- Orange twist
Muddle sugar and bitters, add Fire and ice, garnish with orange.
Apple Cider Fireball
- 1.5 oz Jack Fire
- 4 oz apple cider
- 1 cinnamon stick
Combine Fire and hot cider, garnish with cinnamon stick.
Maple Fire Mule
- 2 oz Jack Fire
- 1 oz maple syrup
- 4 oz ginger beer
- Lime wedge
Stir Jack Fire with maple syrup and fill mule mug with ginger beer. Garnish with lime.
Fire & Ice
- 1.5 oz Jack Fire
- 4 oz lemonade or iced tea
- Lemon wheel
Mix Jack Fire with lemonade or chilled tea over ice. Garnish with lemon.
Tennessee Fireball Jellybean
- 1.5 oz Jack Fire
- 1 oz Jellybean liqueur
- 3 oz lemon-lime soda
Combine liquors in glass over ice, top with lemon-lime soda.
Mexican 5-Alarm Chili
- 1.5 oz Jack Fire
- 3 oz Mexican cola
- Lime wedge
In a glass over ice, mix Jack Fire and Mexican cola. Garnish with lime.
With its spicy kick, Jack Fire pairs especially nicely with fall flavors like apple cider, maple, and pumpkin spice. So break out your inner mixologist!
How Jack Fire Compares to Jim Beam Kentucky Fire
As two of the leading cinnamon whiskey brands, Jack Fire and Jim Beam Kentucky Fire draw a lot of comparisons. They‘re actually more different than you may expect!
| Jim Beam Kentucky Fire | Jack Daniel‘s Tennessee Fire |
|---|---|
| – Uses Jim Beam bourbon as base | – Uses Jack Daniel‘s Tennessee whiskey as base |
| – Sweeter, more candy-like cinnamon | – Bolder, spicier cinnamon flavor |
| – More bite from higher bourbon content | – Smoother sip from mellow charcoal filtering |
So if you‘re craving a sweet, candied cinnamon kick, Jim Beam Fire might be your pick. But for fans of spicy cinnamon balanced by smooth Jack, Tennessee Fire should be your go-to. There‘s room for both in any whiskey lover‘s home bar!
Beyond the Fire: Jack‘s Other Flavored Whiskeys
If the Fire happens to be sold out, or you want to explore new flavors, Jack Daniel‘s offers some other amazing flavored whiskeys:
- Jack Daniel‘s Tennessee Honey – Honey and sweet oak flavors, perfect over ice or in tea.
- Jack Daniel‘s Tennessee Apple – Green apple with tart kick, great with ginger ale.
- Jack Daniel‘s Bonded – Higher proof banana nut flavor, ideal for bold cocktails.
And that‘s not even counting all the incredible limited and seasonal releases under the Jack Daniel‘s Single Barrel Special Release series!
So even if you occasionally have trouble tracking down the Fire, there‘s no shortage of flavored Jack Daniel‘s whiskeys to sample. Your tastebuds will thank you!
Will We Ever See a Jack Daniel‘s Tequila?
As a spirits geek, the whiskey lover in me has often wondered – could we ever get a Jack Daniel‘s tequila?
While they‘re best known for Tennessee whiskey, Jack Daniel‘s is owned by spirits giant Brown-Forman who produce a wide portfolio of venerable alcohol brands like:
- Finlandia Vodka
- Canadian Mist Whisky
- Korbel Champagne
- El Jimador Tequila
So Brown-Forman clearly has the capabilities to produce a tequila product. However, thus far Jack Daniel‘s branding has stuck very close to its Tennessee whiskey heritage.
Expanding into new base spirits like agave would be a major leap into uncharted territory. A big risk for such a historic American whiskey institution.
But crazier things have happened in the spirits world! I wouldn‘t be shocked if one day we saw a Jack Daniel‘s-branded tequila or flavored agave spirit join the ranks. Until then, I‘ll settle for sipping that sweet Tennessee Fire!
Where You Can Buy Jack Fire In Your Area
If you‘re having trouble locating Jack Fire in your area, here are some tips:
- Check big national liquor chains like TotalWine and BevMo who carry the full Jack Daniel‘s line.
- Look for well-stocked independents stores focused on whiskey selection.
- Try online shipping from sites like Flaviar, Caskers, and ReserveBar.
- Search whiskey review sites for store picks and limited releases.
And of course, visiting the iconic Jack Daniel‘s distillery in Lynchburg, Tennessee offers the chance to purchase rare bottles straight from the source!
Even with supply constraints lately, Jack Daniel‘s Tennessee Fire remains widely available across most states (as long as you‘re of legal drinking age). Hunting down that distinctive blacked-edged Fire bottle just adds to the fun!
Okay friend, that‘s my detailed deep-dive on spicy, smooth Jack Fire 101. Hopefully you‘re now loaded with cocktail inspiration, helpful knowledge, and tips for keeping your whiskey cabinet well-stocked.
Here‘s to always keeping the cinnamon Fire and good times flowing! Cheers!