Jack Daniel's Red Dog Saloon

The Jack Daniel's Red Dog bottling is a special release celebrating 125 years since the establishment of one of Mr. Daniel's saloons in Lynchburg, Tennessee, named the Red Dog. The other saloon was called the White Rabbit. Little is documented about this saloon beyond folklore, as it no longer exists and no images survive. Red Dog is bottled at a slightly higher alcohol content, 43% ABV, compared to No. 7. Aside from the increased proof, details regarding production differences or quality compared to the standard JD, which I personally don't favor much, are scarce. The Red Dog bottle features an attractive label with elegant gold accents. Each bottle also includes a "Limited Bottling Number" on the rear, allowing for registration on the JD website to print a personalized ownership certificate. A nice touch! So, will this limited edition and higher proof live up to its enigmatic name and exclusive release? Let's find out if this Red Dog is worth chasing! I sampled it neat in a Glencairn glass without any added water. The aroma immediately strikes me as more engaging, rich, and layered than No. 7. I detect notes of sweet cinnamon pastry, decadent vanilla cream, with cherry and banana accents atop subtle cedar or pine wood. The scent bears a slight resemblance to one of my preferred spirits, Wild Turkey 101. A promising start for this particular expression! Upon tasting, the entry feels somewhat light and watery, yet it still delivers a solid impact. It begins mildly sweet, featuring the characteristic Daniel's banana flavor found in No. 7, but amplified, along with a warming sensation and less pronounced spice than the aroma suggested, though it's still noticeable. Hints of grain and cornbread emerge, accompanied by toasted oak. The finish is brief to medium in length, with lingering notes of toasted oak and sweetness, vanilla, and a touch of honey. Overall, it's certainly superior to the commonly available No. 7, but it doesn't quite stand out as a remarkable whiskey for its $30 cost. Frankly, there are numerous other options in the $30 range (or less) that I would prefer to purchase first, such as Dickel 12, Elijah Craig, McKenna 10, Beam Distiller's Cut, Eagle Rare, or Russell's Reserve 10, among others. I believe devoted fans of JD would appreciate the enhanced flavors and higher proof of Red Dog. Furthermore, I expect collectors of the JD brand would desire this and its companion bottle, White Rabbit, as souvenirs. In all honesty, among JD's recent offerings at this price point, this is likely one of their better ones. I would choose it over No. 7 or Gentleman any day. It's not a regrettable purchase, but it isn't exceptionally special either. Cheers!

I escaped suburban life to upstate New York with some close friends at their vacation home. He's a JD No. 7 drinker and devoted to this Tennessee whiskey. I occasionally introduce him to other Jack Daniel's expressions. The JD rye. Now Red Dog. I was also curious about this one, as it seems to receive relatively positive reviews. Its color resembles Burnt Sienna, according to the Crayola catalog. Naturally, as expected, the signature Jack Daniels banana aroma leads the nose. Rye notes are mingled with it; banana-rye bread. Dill, pickle brine with a hint of nutmeg. A consistent brown sugar sweetness with a cinnamon note hovers in the background, providing stability and uniformity. Vanilla cream, apple crumb pie, pine cones or sawdust (or some soft wood), and peanut brittle. It's a pleasant, complex nose that requires time for these aromas to emerge. A medium-bodied spirit offering a spicy sweetness. Cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves (typical baking spices) with vanilla cream soda. As it approaches the finish, a charcoal flavor emerges with a black pepper tingle. A finish that leaves a slight dryness from the wood, again with vanilla and caramel notes. This lingers for a moderate duration. A solid offering from Jack Daniels. It's not meant for deep contemplation but is a good social sipper. Perhaps this should be the standard? The elevated alcohol content at 43% provides some strength and substance. A good nose, a simple mid-palate, and a medium finish. A good, straightforward sipping whiskey. [85/100][Tasted: 2/15/19][$39]

What a delightful surprise! I typically enjoy Jack Daniel's, but this one was exceptionally good, earning a 90 out of 100. Red Dog Saloon was one of two exclusive bars opened by Jack Daniel's historically, facing legal challenges, and located near the distillery in Lynchburg. Bottled at 43%, with a tawny color. On the nose, very pleasant. Nice scent of Red fruits. Thick Caramel, Chocolate powder. Although it smells somewhat like other Jack Daniel's expressions, this one is sweeter, truly distinct. I might be mistaken, but I'm detecting cherry notes. Significantly sweeter, like thick maple syrup. After the initial taste, a peppery note emerges. Very sweet, sugary. Vanilla and coffee. Abundant thick caramel. On the palate, it's fantastic, truly good. Orange caramel, very sugary. Sugar with milk; extremely sweet. Orange candy; Coffee with milk. An enjoyable smoky, peppery finish. A dry, woody aftertaste. One of the finest Jack Daniel's I've had. A second sip revealed prunes and spice. Tobacco smoke. Coal smoke, barbecue smoke. Quite enjoyable. Overall, this is your standard Jack Daniel's amplified. Much sweeter than the sharp/bitter old No.7. Very satisfying and not costly. My rating is a well-deserved 90 out of 100.

86 proof, a small increase from standard JD. I had hoped this would intensify the flavors with more potency and depth, as the regular 80 proof tastes diluted. Poured neat, it has good sticky legs. The nose is similar to #7 with banana and oily char. This one has more oak and heat, though. A light oily mouthfeel brings char, banana taffy, marshmallow peeps with oak and pleasant heat. The added proof has slightly enhanced the flavor and introduced some heated barrel char. It finishes with smoky char, oak, and fading banana sweetness. Overall, I'd say it's a minor improvement over standard Jack, but not worth the extra cost (regular Jack is frequently on sale), and as a limited release, it won't be easily found anyway... Dickel 12 is still considerably better.

Dark amber color. Aroma of vanilla, molasses, corn. The palate features vanilla, molasses, banana, corn, and a hint of smoke. Medium body, medium length, lacking complexity, with a smooth finish. A minor step up from the classic No. 7, but this one is also quite forgettable.

The palate is sweeter than the black label, with fruity notes and a pleasant warmth on the tongue. I won this bottle in a blind tasting. It placed second out of eleven different Tennessee bottled whiskeys.