Jack Daniel's Single Barrel Heritage Barrel Tennessee Whiskey (2018 Special Release)

Now that I've surpassed the goal of 500 whisky reviews, I can concentrate on catching up with everything else I've been consuming and documenting. Let's begin with this exceptional Jack Daniel's pour I received from a contact in Arizona: Heritage SB whiskey. This was a special bottling from a selection of only 200 casks, also bottled at 100 proof, exceeding the standard 94 proof of the single barrel line. It presents a beautiful, rich mahogany/copper hue and leaves behind oily, thick legs after swirling in the glass. It also leaves the smallest droplets when you finish swirling, indicating its high proof. The aroma indeed smells like a typical JD, but without the prominent banana note (which is a welcome change). There's clove and a very subtle dill, along with traces of allspice if you take your time and investigate deeply. The persistent notes of caramel popcorn and peppery oak provide a unifying element – spicy yet sweet... and somehow familiar. The palate feels quite hot, as expected, allowing more flavors to emerge on the tongue: spiced oak chips, more allspice, and something akin to bananas foster dessert. The heat demands attention; swallowing too quickly will certainly cause a strong reaction. The finish is exceptionally long and steadily warming, with a heavy mouthfeel that starts oily but becomes dry due to the constant heat. Lingering caramel and buttered popcorn provide an excellent closing. This is unequivocally the finest JD whiskey I have ever tasted. It also suggests they should bottle the standard expression at a higher proof, especially if it enhances flavors beyond just banana. Overall, as a Jack Daniel's release, it earns a 5-star rating within the family; as a standalone whiskey, it's still a 4 to 4.25-star pour. While superior bourbons are more readily available, that's irrelevant now. If you are a devoted JD fan, you must seek out a bottle or a taste of this one. Cheers.

Supposedly it's 80% corn, 8% rye, and 12% malted barley, aged 6-7 years. It was matured in toasted barrels. The company employed a lengthy toasting before charring, a significantly lower than typical entry proof, and placed these unique barrels on the highest warehouse level. This lower entry proof allows more water to interact with the whiskey, enhancing wood sugar absorption and accelerating the breakdown of volatile compounds. Furthermore, the uppermost warehouse floor experiences the greatest temperature fluctuations, causing the barrel contents to expand more, driving deeper into the toasted wood. The aroma is rich with vanilla and brown sugar. The taste is sweet and unexpectedly peppery, with notes of licorice and another pleasant, indistinct flavor. Adding water seems to diminish this whiskey. I'm glad I sampled it, as it's quite intriguing, but for the cost, superior options exist.

To be clear, I've never been a fan of JD until this bottling. The nose is completely different; something richer with more depth, leather, and toasted oak. These aromas carry through to the palate. After a slight sting on the lips, a smooth, full body settled in for appreciation. This is certainly not a thin, over-filtered, or overly marketed spirit. There's also a hint of spice, possibly clove. Overall, this was a surprising pour and one I'd recommend; like beets as a child, sometimes revisiting something is worthwhile. Cheers!

The aroma is sweet and woody, like a forest of wood notes. Cedar, oak spice, sassafras, cola syrup, caramel and brown sugar, vanilla, creme brulee, banana pudding, cherries, and leather. I could spend hours appreciating this nose. It's very complex. The palate is sweet upon entry, with a slight peppery spice on the sides of the tongue. As it goes down, it delivers a burst of ethanol heat. Flavors include cherries, caramel, vanilla, toffee, and chocolate. It concludes with a strong, sour oakiness and a drying leather note. Very tannic. This heritage barrel expression is an exploration of oak and woodiness, and I've cherished every moment of this journey.

Overlooked. If you dislike Jack overall, this won't appeal to you. However, if you've developed an appreciation for the JD single barrels and barrel proofs released in the last decade, you will adore this. They've advanced significantly from the black label. It's sweet, but not excessively so, with some depth on the palate. The only aspect that could be improved is a more extended finish, but considering its proof and cost, it's an essential purchase.

Trying this at a bar since I couldn't find it locally. A $26 pour. I prefer this one to the barrel strength version. The aroma is sweet. The flavor is present from the front to the mid-palate, with nothing on the sides. The char imparted flavor. You should seek this one out at retail.