Jennelle Gilreath Talks Whiskey

By Richard Thomas

Jennelle Gilreath
(Credit: Kevin Owens Imagery)

If films, songs, and books are anything to go by, the 1940s was very much a whiskey decade. Despite the damage wrought by Prohibition and the disruptions caused by the Second World War, whiskey was in the tumblers of everyone from Humphrey Bogart to Jack Kerouac.

So, it should come as no surprise that whiskey has found a special place among 1940s enthusiasts, including the multi-talented Jennelle Gilreath. On top of being an actress and singer, Gilreath is also a 1940s-style pin-up model and impersonator of Lana Turner and Judy Garland, as well as being fond of her native state’s chief spirit, Jack Daniels.

RT: You grew up not too far from Lynchburg, and you’re a big Jack and Coke girl. What kind of mood do you have to be in to say “I’ll take that Jack straight” instead of “Jack and Coke please”?

JG: I normally never drink Jack Straight – but sometimes if I feel a tickle in my throat, I’ll do a shot. Seriously, when I’m sick with a cold, some hot tea, honey, and a swig of Jack helps SO much. As weird as it sounds, I would have to be feeling pretty low to drink whiskey straight. My other preference is a Whiskey Sour – lighter on the sour mix as that stuff is like a huge sugar rush and too much can ruin the flavor.

RT: The JD line is expansive these days. Have you tried any of their more rarefied offerings (Gentleman Jack, Single Barrel), their new flavored stuff (Honeyed, Winter Jack), or their older variations (Green Label)?

JG: I have had some of the other Jack Daniels offerings. Gentleman Jack is a nice special occasion whiskey. It’s been awhile since I sampled it but I recall the smoothness of it. I have had the honey kind also – I’m not such a fan of this one. My mother and fiance both seem to like it, but I guess as with my hot tea for a cold I’d rather have fresh honey poured in with it than it already flavored in the bottle.

RT: You’ve also confessed an old interest in moonshine, and a new interest in single malt scotch. So when do you say “give me some ‘shine” or “scotch please” for your sipping instead of going for the Tennessee whiskey?

JG: I couldn’t be from TN ( or the South) and not admit to having moonshine. I have been around enough individuals who have made their own shine (shh!) or actually buy moonshine and then add flavors to it. I once sampled some in GA that was flavored with juices boiled down from the fruit.  Out of these cinnamon apple and peach were tasty, but my most favorite was Blackberry.

JG: Sadly No Jack. I’m a traitor I know. I need to go get some. This interview is making me crave a jack and coke. We have a bottle of Evan Williams with Honey, and obviously that one is not mine. My stock at the moment is mostly wine and vodka (my other liquor of choice). Needing to make a run to the store pronto it appears as I’m embarrassing myself in this interview.

RT: You used to live in Chattanooga, which now has its own distillery, one that had quite a bit of legal trouble in staying open. Have you been down there for a visit yet, or tried out the new Chattanooga Whiskey?

JG: Chattanooga of course holds a special place in my heart. I am aware of all the legal trouble that Chattanooga Whiskey has dealt with in trying to operate. I’m glad they sorted out their troubles, as Southerners do like their alcohol. I have yet to taste this one, but Christmas is coming, and I see a potential bottle of Chattanooga’s finest in my near future.

[On that note] If you should find yourself in Chattanooga any time soon, stop by Urban Stack– an excellent Burger restaurant that has a fully stocked bar of Bourbon and Whiskey. Seriously, these folks are crazy about their liquor. I’ve attached the bar menu so you can see just how many they have to choose from.

RT: One of the things you do is 1940’s themed modeling, and getting back to the fixtures of that era has been something of a trend in whiskey these days. Rye whiskey is popular again, as are higher proof and unfiltered offerings. What do you think of that mix: old timey whiskey and Noir or WWII pin-up imagery?

JG: I love this question! It really is true that we tend to group liquors based on decades. Whenever I go to WWII events, I find the offerings to be period correct mostly. Beer of course, whiskey, vodka, and anything schnapps-wise (for those that portray Germans).
I think Whiskey and Bourbons are very much in tune with Noir films and old Hollywood. Watching an old film, and having a detective or gentleman in it drinking, half the time he will be sipping on scotch or a darker color liquor. I think it goes hand in hand with the types of characters and what their drink represents about them. Somewhere along the way, Hollywood decided having men drink their scotch became more manly than having him sip on wine. We wouldn’t see a cosmopolitan in a 40s setting, just as we wouldn’t see the gals of Sex and the City sipping scotches. It’s just not true to their character and the time period. 

I’m glad to see a return to how things where made back then. I’m very much believer if something is good how it is, why change it and I feel that way about my whiskey.