Jack Daniel’s 10 Year Batch 2 Review
In-Depth Review
Jack Daniel’s is now fully committed to experimenting with their lineup. After spending decades churning out Old Number 7 and Gentlemen Jack, the distillery in Lynchburg, TN has finally decided to fully embrace the whisky craze and explore new and exciting expressions for their lineup. After winning praise for their Barrel Proof and Bonded products, it feels right that they are now exploring longer maturations. So, while typical Jack Daniel’s is aged for “at least 4 years”, what we are drinking today is aged for at least 2.5 times that – meaning we have a full 10 year age statement!
Jack Daniel’s debuted this 10 year product last year to raucous excitement, and have continued the fun this year with a second batch of 10 year and the addition of an even older 12 year product this time around. And while Jack Daniel’s 12 year clocks in at 107 and a $85 MSRP, this 10 year is rocking a 97 proof and an MSRP of only $70. And honestly, that seems pretty reasonable in a world of wildly expensive limited editions. So, let’s dive in and see what all that extra age can do to America’s favorite whiskey.
Age: 10 Years
ABV: 48.5%
Cask: Virgin Oak
MSRP: $70
Distillery Name: Jack Daniel’s
Review Date: 6/4/23
Color: Dark Rust
Nose: Starts off with a big, bold nose that takes that classic Jack Daniel’s profile to a new place. It still has all the overripe banana sweetness you’ve come to expect, but it’s balanced with more wood, char, and sawdust. Overall, this leads to a richer, darker first impression than even the single barrel Jack Daniel’s Barrel Proof. But the classic banana metallic note remains, this time with more French vanilla and toasted oak. The nose comes off a bit hotter than the 97 proof would have you believe, with whiffs of ethanol appearing the deeper you nose the glass.
Palate: While the nose felt a touch hot, the palate is soft, luxurious, and much creamier than I expected. There are note of tobacco leaf, dark chocolate, banana, and nutmeg. But the standout feature is the mouthfeel, with a creamy velvety character that I’ve never experience on a Jack Daniel’s product. It’s balanced and impressive, with powdered sugar, raspberry, and buttercream notes coming through as it settles. The wood impact is clearly there, but never becomes overpowering or takes center stage.
Finish: Medium finish that becomes drier and spicier than the palate. There’s pepper, baking spices, barrel char, and a whiff of smoke that rounds out the experience.
Final Thoughts: Jack Daniel’s 10 year (Batch 2) is an impressive follow up to the highly regarded first batch of Jack Daniel’s 10 year. While I never had the chance to try that first batch, if it was anything like this one, I know why there was so much hype. The 10 years in oak has clearly made a significant impact on the spirit, taking that sometimes brittle Jack Daniel’s profile and creating a rich and deep profile with more oak, complexity, and a fantastic mouthfeel. The longer maturation has balanced the banana Laffy Taffy sweetness and has elevated the profile to an approachable, yet complex place. This is a great pour worth seeking out. The MSRP is spot on here, so anything close to it is an instant buy for me. So, while it isn’t as challenging as Jack Daniel’s Barrel Proof can be, this is a fantastic addition to the lineup and might have you rethinking your Jack Daniel’s prejudices.
