Tater Review: Jack Daniel’s Barrel Proof Single Barrel Select
Jack Daniel’s Barrel Proof - photo by Matt Hakey
Despite being the best-selling American Whiskey in the world, many Taters don’t hold Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Whiskey in high regard. This is due in part to Jack’s ubiquity as the inexpensive 80 proof ‘go-to’ mixing whiskey (though many also associate the brand with waking up to one hell of a hangover in their youth!)
Reputation aside, Jack Daniel’s has been expanding their lineup and they offer many expressions crafted to enjoy neat or on the rocks, no Coke required. Today, we are taking a look at Jack Daniel’s Barrel Proof Single Barrel Tennessee Whiskey.
In 1997, Jack Daniel's introduced a 94-proof Single Barrel whiskey to the market as a premium offering. This was their only single barrel expression until the Fall of 2015 when they released a Barrel-Strength Tennessee Whiskey. Let’s see what the Distiller has to say:
“Barrel Proof is crafted using the same cave spring water from the Jack Daniel’s Hollow, proprietary yeast and charcoal-mellowing process that’s been used in the distillery’s nearly 150-year-old Tennessee Whiskey recipe. From there, the liquid enters a charred White American Oak barrel, forged within Jack Daniel’s very own cooperage and set to age in the upper regions of the barrelhouse. In this resting place, the whiskey is exposed to the extreme temperature variations that a Lynchburg, Tennessee season brings. The interaction of the whiskey, the wood and the environment creates nuances from barrel to barrel to bring out distinct flavor profiles that transcend the expected to become ‘Barrel Proof.’ This provides the rare opportunity to taste Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Whiskey in its purest form; unfiltered and uncut”
The bottle we are trying today is a Private Selection from Belmont Beverages in Fort Wayne, Indiana. This bottle was from Barrel No. 21-21054.
AROMA
Rich brown sugar bomb with notes of oak, maple, and dark fruit
TASTE
Viscous mouthfeel carrying brown sugar, banana bread, rich fruit, sweet caramel, oak, and a hint of walnut
FINISH
Sweet, long, and spicy
AGE
5 years, 10 months
PROOF
133.1 Proof
This is a robust whiskey! The proof and viscous body bombard you with waves of rich notes of baked banana bread and candied walnuts. That said, this whiskey drinks less aggressively than you would expect at 133.1 proof. The characteristic banana candy ‘Jack’ note shows up a bit subdued at this proof. None of the flavors are necessarily complex or nuanced, but the sheer magnitude and presence of the flavors more than make up for this shortcoming. We were shocked to discover this whiskey is less than 6 years old given its flavor profile and color. In an ever crowding market of 4-6 year old cask strength whiskies, this stands out. While the standard Jack Black Label is nothing to get excited about, this Barrel Proof Single Barrel is special.
VERDICT: 4 Taters
SCALE:
5 Taters: Load that bunker. The kids can pay for their own college.
4 Taters: You’d better have a bottle to keep around.
3 Taters: I’ve been wanting to try it, I guess I’ll snag a bottle.
2 Taters: What’s better than drinking your own whiskey? Drinking your friend’s.
1 Tater: Maybe today is just a beer run.
