Best Jack and Coke: The Right Mix for You

jack&coke

You can mix your favorite and most expensive bourbon with Coca-Cola, but somehow it’s not going to taste as good as Jack Daniel’s No. 7 and Coke. That’s because Jack is filtered through sweet maple charcoal, and the resulting flavor perfectly complements the taste of Coca Cola, and makes it taste less sweet.

There’s 5 different ways to mix it, each with a different taste, but since the standard American bar pour is 1½ ounces, we’ll start with that.

Popular Jack & Coke

  • 1½ ounces Jack Daniel’s No. 7
  • 6 ounces Coca-Cola

— Fill a tall or Old Fashioned glass with ice. Pour in the Jack. Gently pour in the Coke. Garnish with nothing. This is a balanced mix of Jack taste and Coke taste.

Ask your bartender for a 4-to-1 ratio or mix. If the bar pours 2 ounces of Jack for a drink, then ask for 8 ounces of Coke.

Pro Jack & Coke

  • 1½ ounces Jack Daniel’s
  •  4½ ounces Coca-Cola

This 3-to-1 mix is the standard ratio for any highball, and brings the taste of Jack Daniel’s Old No. 7 to the forefront. Strong, but not too strong. If using 2 ounces Jack, like the Jack Daniel’s Distillery recommends, add 6 ounces Coke.

Smooth Version

  • 1½ ounces Jack Daniel’s
  • 7½ ounces Coca-Cola

There’s just a hint of the taste of whiskey. A 5-to-1 mix. If using 2 ounces of whiskey, add 10 ounces mixer.

Strong Version

  • 1½ ounces Jack Daniel’s
  • 1½ ounces Coca-Cola

I like this one a lot, it has a slight caramel taste.

Coca-Cola from Mexico is bottled with sugar, and tastes better with alcohol than corn-syrup Coke. Many drinkers will enjoy Jack with a splash of Coke. What’s a splash? It’s a bartender’s one-count, and since a 4-count is an ounce, that’s about ¼ ounce.

Other Whiskey?

Jack Daniel’s just has the right stuff, and it’s better than expensive bourbons when mixed with Coca-Cola. Most other bourbons make the drink taste sweeter, and all the subtle sipping flavors get lost in the Coke. The only whiskies that come close are Wild Turkey 101 and Crown Royal.

Found this American Icon at Schneider's of Capitol Hill.
Found this American Icon at Schneider’s of Capitol Hill, my favorite liquor store ever.

In England, this drink is called JD & Coke, and in the rest of Europe it’s a Whisky Cola.  Serve a glass of cold water with every drink, to reduce consequences.