Jack Daniel's American Single Malt Oloroso Sherry Cask

One day, I discovered that Jack Daniel's, the prominent Tennessee whiskey producer, had launched a single malt. Indeed, my friends, a single malt must be crafted entirely from malted barley, from a single distillery, aged for a minimum of three years in oak barrels, and bottled at no less than 40% ABV. Jack Daniel's accomplished this, offering a liter of it. This new offering has been matured in sherry casks, bottled at 45% ABV, and was exclusively released for travel retail markets. My initial aromatic impression: it presents like a bourbon. Red fruits, sherry, coffee with caramel. Toffee dessert. Impressive hazelnut, truly remarkable, reminiscent of 'Hanuta'. After a short period, a note of chocolate rice krispies appears. A superb nose. On the palate: Caramel, sherry, red fruits. It strongly resembles a rye whiskey on the palate. There's a sensation akin to corn ball snacks. A very pleasant maple syrup, brown sugar, and chili combination. The finish is dry. Oloroso sherry, spicy ginger. Delightful spiciness. After a considerable time, I detected cotton candy. Overall, this is completely distinct from any other Jack Daniel's. I could not identify it as a 'JD' in a blind tasting. It is a single malt, it smells and tastes like one. This is a significant advancement. My rating is 90 out of 100. I am genuinely surprised by this release.

Acquired this at duty-free in Istanbul for $99 per liter. It pours almost brown from the bottle. Brown sugar is the primary sweetness. Toasted cherry alongside a dark brown banana bread characteristic of many JD products. The taste is banana with sweet cinnamon. After a while, spicy marshmallow emerges. A long aftertaste with a thick, smooth texture. Consistently sweet and roasted throughout. It's a shame this is exclusive to duty-free, but it's excellent.

Revisiting this beverage after several months, and I'm appreciating it more than my initial sampling. I detect the Sherry cask more clearly this time, with dark fruits on the nose and palate. Still abundant spice. Some honey and malt notes.

Aroma: botanicals and soil, bittersweet cocoa, malted grain Palate: preserved fruit, prunes and brambles, wood, peppery notes, malted grain and botanicals

Very, very pleasant smell, but the mouthfeel and taste couldn't match it. Overall, a nice whisky, but nothing exceptionally special.

I detect oak and caramel on the nose, along with some spice. Similar palate with a hint of cherry on the finish.