Jack Daniel's American Single Malt Whiskey Review

 

The largest distiller of Tennessee Whiskey is Jack Daniel’s, owned by Brown-Forman. Jack Daniel’s also makes the world’s most popular American whiskey. One ticklish bit of trivia is that Jack Daniel’s is in Moore County, which happens to be dry. Considering who the county’s major employer is and what the county relies on for revenue —that’s curiosity, if nothing else.

 

There’s something special called the Lincoln County Process. Before the newmake is placed in the barrel, it drips through charcoal from burnt maple for six days. That charcoal filtering process mellows the newmake. The Lincoln County Process (LCP) is the point of contention in the big debate over whether or not Tennessee Whiskey can be considered Bourbon. However, we’re not talking about Tennessee Whiskey or Bourbon today.

 

Instead, we’re exploring Jack Daniel’s American Single Malt Whiskey.

 

“At Jack Daniel’s, we strive to be at the forefront of creativity and experimentation when it comes to crafting great whiskey, and helping lead the way as American Single Malt becomes an officially recognized category is an incredible milestone for the distillery. We’ve seen a fantastic response from international travelers in recent years, and we’re now thrilled to bring this special whiskey to friends across the country.” – Chris Fletcher, Master Distiller

 

Now, this leads us to the natural question: What is an American Single Malt?

 

On December 18, 2024, ratification by the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) made it the first new, legal whiskey category in 52 years. In a nutshell, to legally carry the words “American Single Malt” on the label, it must be:

 

• Made from 100% malted barley
• Distilled entirely at one distillery
• Mashed, distilled, and matured in the USA
• Matured in oak casks no larger than 700 liters
• Distilled to no more than 80% ABV (160°)
• Bottled at 40% ABV (80°) or more

 

Jack Daniel’s American Single Malt isn’t exactly new; before today, it was only available in duty-free shops. Now, it can be procured nationwide in one-liter bottles. It is packaged at 45% ABV (90°) and has a suggested price of $74.99.  

 

It has been exciting to watch the American Single Malt category, and I’ll be blunt; I’m a fan of it. That’s not to say they’re all wonderful; I’ve had gorgeous American Single Malts, and I’ve had hot garbage. Which category will Jack Daniel’s land in? To answer that, we’ll #DrinkCurious. But first, I must thank Jack Daniel’s for providing me with a sample in exchange for my no-strings-attached, honest review.

 

Let’s do this!

 

• Whiskey Type: American Single Malt
• Distiller: Jack Daniel’s
• Age: NAS 
• Mashbill: 100% malted barley
• Cooperage: New charred American oak barrels, then finished in vintage Oloroso Sherry casks
• Alcohol Content: 45% ABV (90°)
• Price per 1000mL: $74.99

 

Appearance: I used a Glencairn glass to explore this whiskey neat. The liquid possessed an ochre appearance; a medium-thick rim created thick, fast, crazed tears.

 

Nose: I resisted the whiskey for 15 minutes before I examined its aroma. I smelled dark chocolate, plums, raspberries, strawberries,  soft oak, and toasted coconut. As I took the vapor into my mouth, I discovered more chocolate and toasted coconut.

 

Palate: The first sip featured a buttery texture and a punch of cashews and chocolate. I took another; this time I tasted cashews, milk chocolate, and toasted coconut on the front of my palate. Next came leather, toffee, and hazelnuts. The back offered flavors of oak, vanilla, and café au lait.

 

Finish: Café au lait, leather, hazelnuts, cashews, milk chocolate, toasted coconut, and a kiss of black pepper remained on the back, making for a reasonably mellow finish. There was no crescendo; no up-and-down sensation. It was very even, and the duration lasted 1:10, which I’d classify as medium.  

 

Bottle, Bar, or Bust: I must be careful about how I say this part: Jack Daniel’s American Single Malt had one of the softest mouthfeels I’ve experienced in a while, and it drank 5 or so points below the stated proof. To clarify, that’s warmth, not character.

 

If you, like me, enjoy American Single Malts, Jack Daniel’s is absolutely different. There’s nothing malty about it. No one is going to confuse it with Scotch or Irish whiskey. It doesn’t drink like a Bourbon, Tennessee Whiskey, American Rye, or anything else. It was, however, familiar.

 

I have a bottle of Jack Daniel’s Triple Mash that I’ve not delved into for over a year. I took a small pour of it to see how it compared. It is a Bottled-in-Bond blend of Tennessee Whiskey, Rye, and Malt whiskey; a bit higher in proof and as close to a mashbill as I’ve experienced with Jack Daniel’s. They smelled nothing alike, and it would be unfair to suggest they tasted the same. But I immediately picked out the malt component, and that’s where the familiarity came from. When I returned to the American Single Malt, that softness returned.

 

I’m curious how wet the Oloroso casks were when Jack Daniel’s poured the matured whiskey into them. I also wonder what this might taste like at, say, 10 more proof points. Those are merely the random thoughts of a whiskey reviewer. In its current state, Jack Daniel’s American Single Malt is very good and well worth the price of admission. It earns my Bottle rating, and I’m thrilled that I have a liter on hand. 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 to do so responsibly.