Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel Barrel Proof
In-Depth Review
Does any Jack Daniel’s expression need an introduction? Hardly. It remains the world’s best-selling whiskey with its distillery tucked away in idyllic Lynchburg TN. It’s a small town (in a dry county), away from the hustle and bustle of bourbon country further north. But things are changing in Lynchburg. In years past, Jack Daniel’s was content with just churning out cases upon cases of Old Number 7. But in recent years, the distillery has explored new expressions to captivate new audiences and explore different flavor profiles (read - they want a part of the worldwide whiskey boom).
This Barrel Proof Single Barrel expression is just such an example. Launching back in 2015, this was Jack Daniel’s first whiskey bottled straight from the barrel. It promises an unadulterated Jack Daniel’s expression, in single barrel form, and at an approachable MSRP of around $65. Thought to be anywhere from 4–7 years old, this is a non-age stated bottle that sometimes gets overlooked in the hunt for other more limited expressions. But how good is Jack Daniel’s bottled at cask strength? Let’s dive into this 375ml bottle and find out.
Age: Non-Age Stated
ABV: 64.35%
Cask: New charred oak
MSRP: $65
Distillery Name: Jack Daniel’s Distillery
Review Date: 3/1/23
Color: Rusted gold
Nose: This whiskey comes out swinging early. It hits the palate with a wallop of sweetness. Big notes of maple syrup, toffee bark, and a touch of ethanol heat lead off before moving into banana Laffy Taffy and yellow Runts. It’s almost artificial how sweet the nose on this whiskey is. The wood only begins to creep in as it settles in the glass. Then more yellow corn, frosted vanilla cake, and strong grain character come to the forefront. A pretty good nose overall, feels like a classic Jack Daniel’s expression cranked up to 11.
Palate: Similar to the nose, the palate starts off with maple sugars and strong sweet notes with more wood character with barrel char. On the second wave, here come the strong vanillas. Caramel, toasted crème brulee, with a candied banana topping. This feels like a dessert covered in sticky maple syrup. The mouthfeel is great, with a thick and vicious feel that adds to its hearty character. It feels like there is some age here, but the strong sweetness covers up any leather or tobacco that may have tried to poke through.
Finish: Long, robust finish with the vanilla sweetness continuing with a bit more wood spice and maple wood sugars. The finish lingers and reminds me of Mexican hot chocolate mixed laced with a touch of maple syrup.
Final Thoughts: It’s incredible that Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel at barrel proof doesn’t get more recognition from whiskey enthusiasts. It excels on a long finish, with a vicious and delicious palate that delivers on the sweet maple flavors that Jack Daniel’s is known for. Even at its high proof, the burn is well controlled, and never begs for water. Its combination of accessibility, decadent dessert flavors, and rewarding finish should have this flying off shelves. And while it is hard to find in some parts of the country, in my area I can easily find this in both full 750mls and adorable 375mls. I’m not sure this is a whiskey that I could sip all night due its super sweet disposition, but Jack Daniels Barrel Proof remains a rewarding sip that never seems to disappoint.
