Distiller Notes
#4 Whisky Advocate Top 20 Whiskies of 2021
It’s been 100 years or so since the Jack Daniel Distillery released a whiskey of 10 years of age or greater. Evolving Jack Daniel’s past aged-stated whiskey process, these Tennessee Whiskey barrels have been aging in the Buzzard’s Roost of our barrelhouse, and methodically relocated to the lower floors of different barrel houses to extend the aging process for the last 10 summers. The extreme weather variation at different locations in the barrel houses along with longevity in our handmade oak barrels creates an intense, unique character of Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Whiskey.
Professional Ratings
-
Tasting Panel
Rich amber color and a lush, elegant, and spiced nose. Silky, juicy, and layered with sweet vanilla, chestnut, and toasty notes; stunning, with a lasting finish.
-
Whisky Advocate
This is Jack Daniel’s first age-stated release in over a century, unveiled this summer to great excitement. Does the whiskey itself live up to the fanfare? Our verdict is that it most certainly does. Made from the same Jack Daniel’s recipe used for the core Old No. 7, this liquid has aged well, and taken on lively, dynamic dimensions. Sweet cherry notes and wood spice swirl around the nose and palate, integrating with baking spice, brown sugar, candied orange, and melted butterscotch, all tempered by espresso and cedar chest. This will be an annual release, and the plan calls for it to reappear next summer.
Though they do have a great deal in common, Tennessee Whiskey and Bourbon are not the same. While both must be made from a grain mash bill of at least 51% corn and then left to age in unused, charred white oak barrels, what makes Tennessee Whiskey special is the charcoal filtering process that occurs just before the new-make spirit is transferred to barrel. Known as the Lincoln County Process, this filtering strips off some of the harsher flavor notes, making Tennessee Whiskey smooth and approachable.