Jack Daniel’s has been on quite a roll recently, expanding its lineup well beyond Old No. 7 with new rye whiskeys, cask finishes, and even an American single malt. The latest release from this whiskey giant takes a cue from that last one, giving Jack’s classic Tennessee whiskey a sherry cask finish.
The first batch of Jack Daniel’s American single malt was finished for a full three years in Oloroso sherry casks, really more of a secondary maturation. The new Distillery Series Selection #12 spent the same amount of time in sherry casks, which according to the official tasting notes gave the whiskey sweet citrus on the nose, followed by baking spices, nutmeg, caramel, and red fruit on the palate. We got to try an early sample, and this is one of the better entries in the Distillery Series. Surprisingly, after so long in sherry casks it’s not a sherry bomb, and the classic banana and fruit Jack character comes through with a nice tannic edge.
The mashbill is the same as all of its Tennessee whiskeys—80 percent corn, 12 percent malted barley, and eight percent rye—and it’s bottled at 90 proof. The whiskey was charcoal mellowed before entering barrels, aka the Lincoln County process during which the new make spirit is filtered through ten feet of hard sugar maple charcoal made on the distillery grounds. “We first used Oloroso sherry casks with our American single malt, and it was only natural to continue experimenting with them to craft innovations that only Jack Daniel’s could,” said master distiller Chris Fletcher in a statement. “What resulted was something completely unique that further elevates the complexity of Old No. 7, but maintains a balanced profile. We can’t wait for our friends to try what we believe is the perfect sip for the season.”
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