Jack Daniel's Tennessee Tasters' Selection 14E19 Twin Blend

This selection, a marriage of 20 Straight Tennessee Whiskey barrels and 30 Straight Tennessee Rye Whiskey barrels, was chosen by Master Taster Jessica Hartline. All barrels were entered on May 19, 2014, and combined to create a distinct and substantial expression from Jack Daniel’s. Charcoal filtering contributes to its characteristic Tennessee whiskey flavor. This bottling from Jack Daniels Tennessee Tasters’ Selection was offered in Fall of 2020. Color: Amber Gold. While I don't typically favor standard Jack Daniel's, this Tennessee Tasters’ Twin Blend is quite appealing. The nose offers sweet scents of gingerbread, cinnamon, caramelized apples, sweet BBQ, honeysuckle, and brown sugar, all tinged with a charcoal aroma. The palate presents more sweet and smoky BBQ, charcoal, vanilla, rye spice, and burnt sugar, creating a complex profile. The finish is long and lingering, with notes of roasted pecans, rye spice, and smokiness, concluding with a sweet caramel and floral note.

Selection 14-E-19 While visiting some friends out of state, a friend who had been to the JD Distillery before me brought this Taster's series and shared it. The aroma is dominated by brown sugar, with hints of nutmeg, cinnamon, gingerbread, vanilla, and rye spices. Nutmeg, cinnamon, and rye spices lead the palate. Dark chocolate, light-roasted coffee. The high proof causes a tingle and bite. Subtle hints of brown sugar and vanilla. Adding water is essential and definitely improves the dram. The brown sugar notes become more prominent and lessen the sharpness. Again, baking spices and wood spices round out the pour. A touch of brown sugar and charcoal remain as the palate becomes dry, woody, and nutty. The Taster's Series has produced some quality sipping whiskey so far. The blend of rye here provides and adds balanced spiciness without detracting from the sweeter elements. No exotic finishes here. Just old-school blending of grains and flavors. [89/100] [Tasted: 10/18/21]

The aroma isn't particularly noteworthy to me, and I'm currently enjoying this neat in a rocks glass, not a proper tasting one. However, the palate is where this truly excels. Dark chocolate, coffee, subtle vanilla, and nuttiness (more like pecans than peanuts). It brightens slightly on the finish with some fruitiness, leading into tannic oak and bitter chocolate and coffee notes. This is definitely worth purchasing; I'll get another bottle when I return to the store.

Rye spice, pecans, and caramel. Very pleasing!