Jack Daniel's Bonded Tennessee Whiskey Review & Tasting Notes

I’m pretty sure everyone, including non-whiskey drinkers, has heard of Jack Daniel’s. Its Old No. 7 Tennessee Whiskey is the best-selling whiskey of any kind in the world. Founded in Lynchburg, Tennessee, in 1866, the distillery sources water from the Cave Spring Hollow, two miles beneath its campus.

 

Jack Daniel’s starts with a mash of 80% corn, 12% malted barley, and 8% rye. It then goes through a six-day fermentation process. When that’s complete, it is sent through the copper pot still, which exits at 140°.

 

It then goes through the Lincoln County Process (LCP). This is what makes Tennessee Whiskey a subset of Bourbon. There is much debate surrounding this; however, nothing in the rules disqualifies Tennessee Whiskey from being Bourbon. In the case of Jack Daniel’s, the LCP process takes between 3-5 days. After the LCP, the whiskey goes into barrels. Jack Daniel’s has its own cooperage, giving it greater control over barrel quality and consistency.

 

Today I’m sipping on Jack Daniel’s Bonded Tennessee Whiskey. Because it is Bottled-in-Bond, we know it is at least four years old and is exactly 50% ABV (100°). The rest of the Bottled-in-Bond designation means it was distilled by a single distiller at a single distillery in a single distilling season (meaning either January to June or July through December) and requires maturation to occur in a government-bonded warehouse (hence the bonded nomenclature).

 

Jack Daniel’s Bonded isn’t challenging to find. Of course, it isn’t at every bar and liquor store like Old No. 7, but I’ve seen it in more than enough retail shops. A 750ml costs about $35.00 or so. I picked my bottle up for a few pennies less after taxes.

 

How does this taste? We #DrinkCurious to find that out. But, before we do, I will say this much: Bonded whiskey is my favorite niche category of American distilling. It is a rare exception to have one that’s not tasty. Now, let’s get to it.

 

Appearance: A neat pour into my Glencairn glass showed me a rusty-colored liquid. It formed a thinner rim which, in turn, created lightning-fast, thick tears.

 

Nose: The smell of maple, caramel, cherry, banana, and nutmeg permeated my nostrils. When I inhaled through my lips, I encountered toasted oak.

 

Palate: The mouthfeel was soft and creamy. Maple syrup, corn, and nutmeg hit the front of my palate, while the middle featured caramel, brown sugar, and banana flavors. Charred oak, bold rye spice, and clove created the back.

 

Finish: Its long, lingering duration consisted of banana, brown sugar, char, nutmeg, cinnamon, and rye spice.

 

Bottle, Bar, or Bust: Forget anything you know about Old No. 7 because Jack Daniel’s Bonded is nothing like that. It possesses enough spicy punch to hold your attention, allowing you to ponder what flavors are stuck in your mouth. It is a pleasurable pour, one well worth its $35.00 cost, and, to be blunt, I’d happily pay more. If you see this one on your local store shelf, buy a Bottle. You won’t be disappointed. Cheers!

 

My Simple, Easy-to-Understand Rating System

• Bottle = Buy It
• Bar = Try It
• Bust = Leave It

 

Whiskeyfellow encourages you to enjoy your whiskey as you see fit but begs you do so responsibly.