Whisky: Jack Daniel’s Bonded
Producer: Brown-Forman (Since 1956)
Distillery: Jack Daniel’s Distillery
Whisky Type: Tennessee Whiskey
Region: Lynchburg, Tennessee, USA.
Age: NAS
ABV: 50%
Cask: New charred American oak.
Price Range: $

Jack Daniel’s is a brand of American Whiskey made by Brown Forman. It is the best-selling American Whiskey in the world. The distillery was founded in 1866 and is located in Lynchburg, Tennessee.

Jasper Newton Daniels was born in 1850 and became an orphan at a young age, so he went to live with Dan Call, a preacher and moonshine distiller who later would become his partner when Jack registered his own distillery in 1866. Dan taught Jack the technique of mellowing with charcoal, while Master Distiller Nathan Nearest taught him about distilling.

Nearest later became the head of distilling for Jack Daniel’s distillery. He was born into slavery and emancipated after the civil war and was the first African-American master distiller on record in the United States.

Jack Daniel’s whiskey meets all the regulations from the bourbon category, but in 1944 achieved the official approval for its own classification as Tennessee Whiskey due to an additional step in the production process known as the “Lincoln County process”.

Jack Daniel’s Distillery Highlights

• Jack Daniel’s original mash bill is made of 80% corn, 12% barley, and 8% rye and continues until today.
• The enzymes from barley convert the starches into sugars. Jack Daniel’s does not use external enzymes for saccharification.
• The distillery burns pellets of sugar maple three times a day and three times a week to create the charcoal to mellow the whiskey in a process known as the Lincoln County process.
• The Lincoln County Process consists in pouring the whiskey (right after distillation, 140 proof) drop by drop through a 10 feet vat full of sugar maple charcoal to remove some of the rough flavors and make it more palatable.
• Distillation occurs in a column still with no additional distillations. 40,000 gallons of mash make 8,000 gallons of whiskey to fill 150 barrels.

Some popular expressions are:

• Old No. 7. The whiskey is the flagship of the brand and 4.5 years old. The name comes from the registration distillery number assigned by the government. Expect vanilla, clove, and tannic notes. The whiskey is 40% ABV and non-chill filtered.
• Gentleman Jack. The whisky goes twice through sugar maple mellowing and aged for 6.5 years. Expect the same vanilla flavors but the spicy notes from clove and cinnamon are more pronounced. The whiskey is 40% ABV and non-chilled filtered.
• Single Barrel. Rich flavors of baking spices and bottled at 45% ABV.
• Jack Daniel Liqueurs. Apple, Fire (cinnamon), and Honey liqueurs are sweet and often used in cocktails. All of them are bottled at 35% ABV.
• The Frank Sinatra Edition. The famous singer was a big fan of the brand, and the distillery honors him with a limited release. Made with unique “Sinatra Barrels” that have deep grooves especially carved into their staves to expose the whiskey to extra layers of toasted oak.

This expression complies with the bottle in bond requirements from 1897:

• Made by one distillery.
• Product of one distilling season.
• Aged in a government-bonded warehouse for at least 4 years.
• Bottled at 50% ABV (100% proof).

Tasting Notes for Jack Daniel’s Bonded

Nose: Caramel, tobacco, vanilla, leather, spices, and oak aromas. A wonderful nose.

Palate: Medium body with banana, caramel, toasted oak, and spicy flavors. Enjoyable, Add a little water, and this whisky gets even better.

Finish: Medium, sweet and spicy.

Conclusion: Jack Daniel’s bonded is a sweet and spicy whisky that delivers a good experience, especially in the nose. The fact that it is so affordable (only $30) yet complex makes this expression more interesting. Most Bottled Bond whiskies command at least $50, so the value is the main feature here. Try this Tennessee Whiskey. Cheers!

Score: 3.25/5 ⭐

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