George Dickel
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George Dickel is the name of a brand of Tennessee whiskey manufactured in Cascade Hollow, Tennessee, near Tullahoma. The brand is now owned by Diageo PLC. Two whiskies are produced at the George Dickel Distillery, George Dickel No.8 and No.12 Tennessee Whiskies. No.8 is an 80 proof whisky and sells for an average price of $14 U.S. for a 750ml bottle; No.12 is 90 proof, and sells for an average price of $20 U.S. for 750ml.
George Dickel's Tennessee Whisky uses the traditional Scottish spelling of whisky (as opposed to whiskey). Reportedly, this is because Dickel believed his product to be as high in quality as the best Scotch whiskies.
History
Originally Cascade Tennessee Whisky, it was first produced in 1877. After selling it in his retail store, George Dickel bought a controlling interest in the distillery in 1884. He also bought the exclusive rights to bottle and sell the whisky. George Dickel died in 1894; the whisky was then renamed in his honor.
Tennessee Prohibition forced the distillery to move to Kentucky in 1910. The beginnings of National Prohibition forced them to shut down altogether the next year. In 1937, Schenley Distilling Co. bought the George Dickel brand. Schenley would own and operate the distillery for the next fifty years. In 1958, after the passage of enabling legislation and a referendum, the distillery was moved back to Cascade Hollow. Although once again produced in Tennessee, the whisky again bottled in Kentucky; Schenley shut down the Tennessee bottling line several years ago and the whisky is now hauled in tanker trucks for bottling in Louisville. Various mergers and buyouts have resulted in Diageo PLC owning the Dickel brand.
Increased production of George Dickel in the 1990s caused supply to exceed demand. In response, the distillery was closed to allow the whisky's value to rebound. The distillery was reopened in 2003, and is currently operating under the supervision of master distiller David Backus.