On the shelves of our stores has grown several times. This is due to the high popularity of some products. The leading place in their ranking is occupied by imported alcohol, in particular Jack Daniels whiskey. It is sometimes very difficult to distinguish a fake from the original. Its "manufacturers" are trying to keep their "pirate" brand.
Why Jack Daniels
The trademark "Jack Daniels" has been known in the world for more than 200 years and during this time it has never compromised itself. This drink has recently become a cult not only in the United States, but also in Russia.
Its popularity is so high that they drink this whiskey not only in expensive restaurants in megacities, but also in cheap “bottling shops” of the Russian hinterland. This, in fact, led to the massive fakes of this unique drink.
But how do you tell fake Jack Daniels from real whiskey? First, let's figure out what it is and where it comes from.
What is fake whiskey
Most whiskey lovers do not even suspect that they can use not the original product, but the usual fake, which is produced in neighboring countries.
Facts of poisoning with counterfeit whiskey are rare, because this product goes not only to Russia, but also to some countries of Western Europe. Sometimes we also get an original, but contraband product, somehow stolen from the factory. Often this is a fairly high-quality alcohol with a taste and smell close to the original, but it has nothing to do with the American drink.
How to spot a fake Jack Daniels
There are not so many ways to identify a fake. More precisely, two. The first is visual, which means looking for differences from the original on the label and the bottle itself, without opening the whiskey. The second is a comparison of taste and smell.
Let's start with the first method. Most often, fake whiskey is found in bottles of 0.5 liters, although the most popular size in the US and Europe is 0.7 liters. The relatively low price for half a liter makes it easier for "pirates" to sell it, and for a naive buyer to buy it.
However, we have half-liter bottles of original whiskey on sale. But how to distinguish a fake "Jack Daniels" (0.5 l) from a real product?
The first step is to inspect the bottle itself. The original has 4 faces engraved with "Jack Daniels". The neck of the bottle is faceted and begins with a convex ring, along which the drink is poured.
The bottom contains an engraving of numbers. The cork of the original should be only plastic, wrapped in thin plastic with the inscription "old No.7 brand" and without a dispenser.
The front label must contain information about the name of the drink, the trademark with the obligatory presence of the “®” sign and the batch number of the bottling. The back label indicates the manufacturer, barcode, importer. The original product must not contain any inscriptions in Arabic, Russian or any language other than English.
Other ways: how to distinguish a fake "Jack Daniels" (0.5 l) without opening the bottle
There are other indicators that the whiskey you have chosen is not the original:
- crookedly pasted labels or visible traces of glue from under them;
- smooth smooth bottom;
- half-mast "shoulders" of the bottle;
- rounded edges;
- the presence of a dispenser;
- the presence of sediment at the bottom of the bottle
And, of course, the price. The cost of a 0.5 liter bottle of Jack Daniels in duty free shops starts at 13 euros, so any product with the same name and the same capacity cannot be cheaper even on sale.
If the bottle is already open
If you have ever drunk real American whiskey, it will not be difficult for you to distinguish counterfeit from the original. But how to distinguish a fake "Jack Daniels" taste to a person ignorant of imported alcohol?
First, open the bottle and shake it. Real whiskey, when shaken, forms large air bubbles around the edge of the liquid. They should not disappear for 5-7 s.
Next, pour the drink into a glass and inhale its aroma from a distance of 15-20 cm. The original whiskey has a light sweetish malty smell, sometimes with subtle notes of flowers and fruits. If you bring the glass close to your nose and take a deep breath, you should feel an aroma reminiscent of red wine. Fake whiskey will always smell like alcohol, and sometimes even moonshine.
How not to become a victim of "pirates"
Now that you know almost everything about how to distinguish a fake "Jack Daniels" (0.5) from a real two-century American brand in the same container, you can try to identify other alcoholic beverages.
However, it is worth thinking about how to protect yourself and your loved ones from the machinations of "pirates". After all, you see, it is not always possible to examine a bottle of whiskey in a store, comparing it with the original, or to taste and smell an alcoholic drink.
The only rule that will protect you from counterfeit goods is to buy alcohol only from trusted, licensed outlets.
How to distinguish fake whiskey from the original? The question is serious, because the world market currently offers a large number of alcohol. And scammers take advantage of this situation.
In the article:
How to distinguish real whiskey
Recently, in our country, as well as throughout the world, the level of culture of drinking alcoholic beverages has significantly increased. The modern consumer is increasingly buying well-established alcohol brands.
Unscrupulous traders of strong drinks took advantage of this situation. Along with high-quality alcohol, a large number of counterfeit products appeared on the market. Whiskey producers were the first to be hit.
This is due to the fact that whiskey is one of the most popular and affordable spirits in the world. The perfect combination of price and quality of this alcohol attracts a large number of fans. And more and more relevant is the question of how to distinguish fake whiskey from real.
Signs by which whiskey can be distinguished from a fake
Distinguishing real alcohol from its fake is quite easy. Any connoisseur of good whiskey will easily identify a counterfeit product. At the time of buying alcoholic products attention should be paid to the following facts:
- the point of sale where this whiskey is sold;
- the price of the product;
- bottle;
- the color of the contents of the bottle;
- liquid consistency;
- availability of information about the composition of the product;
- taste and aroma of whiskey.
Let's consider each item separately.
Point of sale of alcoholic products
In order not to be mistaken in the quality of the purchased whiskey, it is best to buy a drink in stores specializing in the sale of alcoholic beverages, or in large supermarkets. In an era of fierce competition, these merchants carefully monitor the quality of the goods offered.
Also, at any point of sale, upon request, you are required to provide a certificate for alcoholic products. If for some reason this document cannot be provided, feel free to refuse to purchase the goods, despite the explanations of the merchant.
Another plus in favor of specialized outlets is the availability of consultants. The consultant will convey to you all the information about alcoholic products, tell you about the features various kinds whiskey, will select a drink according to your taste preferences.
Specialized retail outlets are very sensitive to their reputation, so they offer goods of decent quality and high level service personnel.
The price of the product
When buying whiskey, do comparative characteristic the prices of the purchased goods with analogues in other outlets. good alcohol is not cheap, and it is worth spending your time on price analysis. This is easy to do over the internet. The very cheap price of the goods, in comparison with analogues, should alert the consumer. Do not buy into any explanations - feel free to refuse the purchase. The money saved can cost you and your loved ones not only a spoiled celebration, but also health problems.
Bottle
The next factor in determining the quality of the purchased whiskey will be the study of the bottle. Having chosen the brand of alcohol that you wish to purchase, go to the manufacturer's website and familiarize yourself with the means of protection of the goods used by him.
Very carefully you need to study the quality and content of the label, its location on the bottle. Some manufacturers place the label at a certain, strictly adjusted angle. The label must be neatly glued, without blots and glue drips. Color, image, information on the label must match the brand.
Every self-respecting producer of noble whiskey does not deprive the cork of its attention. In addition to integrity, it is necessary to pay attention to the compliance of the cork with this brand. This information can also be found on the official website of the alcoproducer.
whiskey producers much attention is paid to the bottle in which the noble drink reaches its admirers. In this matter, the flight of imagination of designers knows no bounds. Someone uses square decanters, someone prefers bottles with rounded edges. Some distillers for their exclusive whiskey make containers with an engraved logo and an individual drink number. A vivid example of this, on the bottles of which a horse flaunts. All this information is reflected in great detail on the manufacturer's website. It is very difficult to make such a container in a handicraft production. It is the bottle that is the clearest proof of the quality of the purchased drink.
Whiskey Maker's Mark
For example, for producers of Maker's Mark whiskey, the bottle is a special pride. The container and label of this manufacturer cannot be faked without expensive equipment.
A prerequisite for real whiskey is the presence excise stamp. Only alcohol with an excise stamp can be considered real.
Whiskey color and texture
The color of real whiskey varies from light straw to brown. But with any color, the drink should remain transparent. In this whiskey there are no impurities, sediment, flakes. The original noble drink should not be cloudy. The presence of foreign colors and impurities in alcohol indicates a violation of the production process, which is unacceptable for a legitimate alcohol producer.
Another way to distinguish a fake drink from a real one is to shake the contents of the bottle. Real whiskey has an oily consistency, so when shaken inside the bottle, fairly large bubbles are formed that do not disappear for several seconds. In this regard, a drop of real wiki very slowly flows down the glass of the bottle.
If, when shaking, small bubbles formed in the bottle, which immediately disappeared, then the qualities this drink raises doubts.
The composition and taste of whiskey
On the back of the bottle manufacturers strong wine have information about the composition of the product. Study the list very carefully. The information must be translated into Russian and contain the entire list of ingredients included in the composition alcoholic drink.
This whiskey contains only natural ingredients. It contains no artificial colors, flavors or other additives.
Alcohol connoisseurs know exactly how to distinguish whiskey from a fake by taste and aroma.
When inhaling the aroma of a real strong whiskey there can be no strong smell of alcohol. The drink exudes a pleasant aroma of malt and oak.
The taste of true whiskey is soft, having a complex bouquet that leaves a long aftertaste. The counterfeit product has a pungent odor and a burning taste.
The combination of all the above qualities may indicate the authenticity of alcoholic products. Having once held a bottle of real whiskey in your hands and tasted the taste of exquisite alcohol, you will never confuse it with a fake.
Today Johnnie Walker remains one of the most popular drinks.
This whiskey is sold all over the world and produces approximately 130 million bottles per year. The brand has gained this recognition thanks to its diverse range, as Johnnie Walker produces both publicly available types of adhesive tape and elite drinks. Therefore, everyone can afford to buy a bottle of Johnnie Walker.
The history of the origin of the drink dates back to 1819, when John Walker, a Scot by birth, was selling tea in his family's shop. At that time, he alone was able to produce rare varieties of tea, by mixing them, thereby attracting thousands of consumers.
In 1820, the Scot wanted to try his hand at blending and create a drink like whiskey (another name is "Scotch scotch"). Formally, the Johnnie Walker brand was registered thanks to his son John Alexander.
A peculiar gentle and spicy variety of Scottish scotch was in great demand among buyers, and already in 1893 Johnnie Walker entered the international level. Over time, scotch gained immense fame and began to be sold in various countries around the world.
Draw an emblem trademark with a walking young man wearing a hat, they began only in 1908 and use it to this day. 
Variety of Johnnie Walker cultivars
There are several varieties of blending Johnnie Walker Scottish Scotch.
The most popular classic variety with an exposure of at least three years and combines thirty-five varieties of adhesive tape is Red Label. The component of the blend is Cardhu whiskey with a hint of honey. Due to the fact that this is one of the youngest drinks, it has a slightly harsh and tart taste.
This alcoholic drink has a very interesting story grounds.
Priest Denn Call is considered the founder of the Jack Daniel's brand. He was the owner of a distillery and made high-quality whiskey there. Once he took the seven-year-old boy Jasper Daniel as his assistant. The boy, despite his young age, turned out to be very smart, he quickly learned all the intricacies of making whiskey and soon the priest Denn made him his full-fledged partner in production.After the death of Denn Call, Jasper Daniel became the sole owner of the distillery.This is how a great story began legendary drink Jack Daniel's.
The uniqueness of the drink is that in its production they use additional purification through maple charcoal. Thanks to this whiskey acquires a special taste and softness.
Gradually, over time, a small distillery grew into a full-fledged Jack Daniel's whiskey distillery. Already in 1866, the distillery was officially registered, and it was the world's first official whiskey production.
Soon the plant was moved to the city of Litchburg, as there were springs with very soft and crystal clear water. Jasper was well aware that the taste properties of the drink directly depend on the quality of the water.
At first, whiskey was sold in earthenware bottles with wooden corks and an engraving of Mr. Jack. In 1895, a square-shaped bottle was born, which is still used today. These bottles are very convenient to use and transport. The shape of the bottles has not changed since then, only the manufacturer adds additional security marks to their design. This allows you to protect yourself from fakes.
Since 1904, Jack Daniel's has received almost every year the awards of the most the best whiskey around the world at various exhibitions.
The recipe for the drink did not change until 1988. This year, the new head of the brand, Jack Reir, decided to change the technology of whiskey production. Since then, the drink has undergone a double purification: before being placed in a barrel and after four years of aging through ordinary coal. This gave the whiskey even more softness and at the same time a special characteristic taste.
Given the popularity of the drink around the world, it is not surprising that there are many manufacturers of fake Jack Daniel's whiskey on the market. To learn how to distinguish a fake from the original, you need to know the features of this drink.
Signs of fake whiskey
Jack Daniel's is the most forged whiskey in the world. In order not to be disappointed and avoid buying low-quality whiskey, let's look at the main differences between the original and the fake.
The first thing you see when you buy is the bottle. This is the main object of our analysis. This is the only thing that will help you determine the originality of the drink without making a purchase.
Shake the bottle - in a real drink, after shaking, large bubbles should appear that stay on the surface for a long time. The color should not be too dark, but not light either. Not even the slightest sediment or turbidity is allowed.
Don't get too excited when you see discounts on this whiskey in the store. The original Jack Daniel's brand does not hold promotions and discounts are quite rare and very small. If you see a 50% - 70% discount, be sure that you have a fake.
Now look at the lid. It is in the original plastic drink, covered with a plastic film. The film should have Old No.7 brand on the front of the bottle and Tennessee WHISKEY on the back. Also on the plastic film there should be perforation: two strips vertically and one horizontally.
The neck of the bottle in the original is faceted, in fakes it is most often just round. The edges should be even and slightly convex. There should be a convex ring at the base of the neck. The drink is poured a little above it.
In the shape of the bottle itself, the edges should be clearly visible. Counterfeit drink bottles usually have rounded edges. In the photo below, a fake bottle is on the left, and the original is on the right.
Also pay attention to whether there are Jack Daniel's engravings on the shoulders of the bottles. They should be very neat and even, without errors. The volume of the drink should also be engraved at the bottom.
The bottom of the bottle should be a clear square shape with cuts, evenly angled on all sides. First photo below typical view the bottom of a fake whiskey bottle. And the second is the original.
And finally, the label. It should be embossed, evenly pasted without streaks and traces of glue. There are no mistakes allowed in the inscriptions. The label is glued in real Jack Daniel's evenly on three sides of the bottle. On the left side of the label there must be a unique code that indicates the number of the barrel and the date the whiskey was bottled.
If you have already bought Jack Daniel's whiskey, then when uncorking, pay attention to whether there is a dispenser. There is a misconception that the original Jack Daniel's should not have a dispenser. In fact, this is just an indicator of the originality of the drink. But fakes save on the presence of a dispenser.
The smell of the drink has characteristic notes of coal. The taste is tart-sweet with a caramel aftertaste. Fakes always give themselves out with a sharp alcohol smell and taste. Such whiskey can not only ruin your holiday, but also provoke poisoning.
Beware of shopping at suspicious points of sale. It is best to make a purchase noble drink in specialized liquor stores.
Elite whiskey of the famous Scottish brand Chivas Brothers is well known all over the world. Each year, the manufacturer supplies more than 4 million cases of this exquisite drink to more than 200 countries on different continents. The quality of the adhesive tape is evidenced by the fact that the company is one of the suppliers of the British Royal Court.
Like any product of the highest quality, which is in steady demand, Chivas whiskey ("Chivas") is often falsified, offering imitation of different levels. What to look for when buying, so as not to become a victim of scammers? The original Chivas Regal whiskey has unique properties that distinguish it from fakes.
Decoration in a gift box
Each bottle of "Chivas" is produced by the manufacturer in an individual gift box - cardboard, metal or leather. The exception is the Chivas Regal flask. If you are offered a bottle without packaging from an ordinary box, this is an undeniable fake.
Original packaging
It is easy to recognize a round-shaped bottle with characteristic smooth shoulders and a raised logo above the label. On the opposite side of the bottle, there are necessarily embossed signatures of the founders of the brand - brothers John and James Chivas. The bottom glass is about 15 mm thick, with Latin inscriptions and brand engraving. The relief is clear, the letters are of the same height, with even edges. The absence of these elements, as well as the presence of those that are not characteristic, indicates that you are being offered a dubious drink from among the many fakes of Chivas Regal.
Label
The embossed label of the original drink must be pasted neatly and evenly. She has an ideal print quality, bright colors, clear borders of the transition of colors and relief. The label has a number indicating the exposure time. On the reverse side of the front label, a unique serial number is visible through the glass, as well as the number and date of the spill. If Chivas Regal whiskey does not have such inscriptions on the back of the label, then it is a fake.
On the small label, the unique number and date of bottling can also be on the front side. If possible, compare the unique serial numbers on different bottles, they should not match.
Cork
The cork "Chivas" is perfectly sealed with a plastic film with inscriptions on English language and brand logo. On a tightly fitting film, there should be no creases or folds. The logo and inscriptions are also printed on the lid.
Excise stamp
An excise stamp on a bottle of true scotch must be required. The exception is whiskey purchased at a duty free duty free shop. Look carefully at the brand: the volume indicated on it must correspond to the volume of glass containers.
You can check the authenticity of the excise stamp directly in the store - special kind a scanner that allows you to do this is available in every hypermarket and specialized alcohol boutique. Contact the store administrator with a request to check the brand, and if the scanner shows a discrepancy, refrain from buying.
Visual assessment of the quality of Chivas Regal
Here are a few features to look out for:
- transparency of the drink;
- color;
- consistency.
Transparency is considered one of the main indicators of the authenticity of whiskey. Insufficient filtration, the sign of which is turbidity, is the most obvious attribute of counterfeit. Leave a fingerprint on one side of the bottle and try to see it from the opposite side. If it is indeed "Chivas Regal", the imprint should be clearly visible.
Carefully examine the bottom - there can be no sediment and flakes. original drink has an amber color, it is absolutely clean and transparent. Shake the bottle vigorously and check that the degree of transparency has not changed.
After shaking original whiskey Chivas Regal forms stable large bubbles and slowly flows down the inner wall of the glass in large drops.
Price
Everything is simple here: real elite whiskey is not cheap, the minimum price of Chivas Regal 12 with a volume of 0.5 liters cannot be less than 30-35 euros per bottle. The same adhesive tape with a capacity of 0.75 liters will cost at least 35-40 euros, and for Chivas Regal 18 0.75 liters you will have to pay from 70-75 euros.
Where to buy?
We recommend purchasing expensive alcohol only in specialized stores or large shopping centers. As a rule, such dealers, valuing their reputation, do not trade in surrogates. Buying elite alcohol, it will not be superfluous to take an interest in documents that guarantee quality. If such a request meets with dissatisfaction or refusal of the seller, refrain from buying.
