Confectioners’ sugar | Maraschino cherries | Butterscotch | Sweet oak | Exceptional

Molasses | Nutmeg | Cinnamon | Fig | Dried raisins | Cherry | Mixed berry undercurrent | Sugary oak | Rich

Leather | Plum | Black currants | Tannic oak

For fans of Jack Daniel’s, 2021’s release of a Jack Daniel’s 10 Year Old Whiskey was a huge deal. It was the first time since Jack Daniel’s was at the helm the company released age stated whiskey. Some of this was due to pure logistics, as the company was constantly trying to keep up with demand during their explosion in popularity during the turn of the 20th century. This also led the brand to settle into a comfort zone focused solely on their core expression. But modern times have allowed (or forced) them to experiment. They just released their first malt whiskey ever, continue their annual Special Release whiskey line, quarterly distillery-only Experimental Series whiskeys, and are now expanding their age stated whiskeys.

‍‍Jack Daniel’s 12 Year Old Tennessee Whiskey is a milestone release for the company. Ignoring the larger significance of the release itself, the whiskey offered, is some of the best they’ve ever released. There’s been plenty of great examples of how great their whiskey is, in the form of their Special Release line and certain single barrels, but the 12 Year tastes especially dialed in. The whiskey’s aroma is full of confectioners’ sugar and molasses, and is not only a showstopper for a Jack Daniel’s whiskey but one of the best aromas in recent memory. It’s wonderfully rich and sweet and exceptional in every way. For those keeping score, the nose is as near perfect. The palate, not to be outdone, is equally rich with a strong upfront showing of molasses and baking spices. It also has a creamy mouthfeel that nicely carries with it vital amounts of cherry and sweet oak. The finish quickly changes over to leather with an excellent plum and black currant accent. Lingering tannic charred oak makes the final statement as the whiskey concludes.

‍‍This is the whiskey I hoped we were going to get with 2021’s 10 Year and Coy Hill releases. I was looking for a fuller and richer showing of traditional Jack Daniel flavors. The 10 Year was a really good release but lacked a certain intensity and concentration of flavors. I was expecting just that with the company’s Coy Hill releases given their proof, but instead got an overpowering jolt of Jack Daniel’s. Jack Daniel’s 12 Year Old Tennessee Whiskey is excellently fine-tuned and likely what many Jack’s fans exactly wanted from the brand.

‍‍An estimated 18,000 bottles will be available for this release.