Jack Daniel’s 14 Year Tennessee Whiskey is the iconic brand’s first 14 year aged-stated whiskey in more than 100 years. The release joins the annual releases of Jack Daniel’s 10 Year and 12 Year Tennessee Whiskeys. According to Master Distiller Chris Fletcher, Batch 1 is composed of 24,000 bottles for its inaugural release, mimicking the range the company hits for its 10 and 12 Year releases.

‍‍The barrels spend nearly half of their aging time on the upper floors of the company’s rickhouses before being moved to the first floor to curb evaporation loss and tame the oak extraction from the barrels. This also lowers their proof, and unlike other barrel proof releases from the company, the move to the lower floors resulted in a lower proof Jack Daniel’s whiskey. Jack Daniel’s does not typically move barrels, and their Aged Series marks a major change in how the company stores its barrels.

‍‍While not officially labeled bourbon, most of Jack Daniel’s whiskeys meet the criteria for being called bourbon. After distillation, Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Whiskey undergoes what is referred to as the ‘Lincoln County Process.’ Jack Daniel’s allows its whiskey to drip for six days in 10-foot vats, passing through charcoal made by burning maple wood impregnated with 140 proof Jack Daniel’s whiskey before being put in new charred oak barrels for aging.

A delectable assemblage of rich, sweet scents instantly communicates that this is a Jack Daniel’s whiskey. With perfect intensity, the aroma starts with seductive notes of dark cherry, deep molasses, light maple, and sweet aged charred oak. While they are first out of the gate, they are not the last, with additional layers of chocolate, aged leather, fresh cigar leaf, and brown sugar added. This may seem overwhelming on paper, but the scents all work in unison and remain easy to decipher. This wonderful aroma encapsulates Jack Daniel’s whiskey to a T. Bright and sweet but stately and seductive, it is easily one of the best aromas found on a Jack Daniel’s whiskey to date.

As soon as the whiskey hits your tongue, you’ll notice its viscosity. It’s thick and mouthcoating, attaching itself to your taste buds to maximum effect. Assorted dark chocolate-covered notes hit first, revealing a range of cherry, raspberry, caramel, and nougat. Seasoned oak and cigar leaf add a contrasting element to the sweetness that opens the palate, adding further dimension. This is a robust and flavorful sip that uses its proof well and refrains from being overly hot in any way. Beautifully crafted.

The whiskey’s finish loses much of the nose and palate’s sweetness, and its time in the barrel begins to show. The seasoned oak turns dry, and aged leather, burnt sugar, and oak spice begin to appear. As the taste dissipates, spice lingers, and a light musty oak note blossoms. Dark chocolate is still present, and dark bootstrap molasses can be tasted. It is fully flavored and oak-dominated, yet it is careful not to go overboard despite its high proof. The finish contrasts the palate nicely, showcasing its time spent in the barrel beautifully.

It took a while for the modern Jack Daniel’s Distillery to come around to age statements. They were laser-focused on their standard Old No. 7 Tennessee Whiskey for the longest time. However, as they saw how the American whiskey market was changing and how age, proof, and variation were in vogue among new detail-oriented drinkers, they wisely decided to expand their brand portfolio to address these new demands.

With the launch of Jack Daniel’s 10 Year in 2022, the 12 Year in 2023, and the 14 Year in 2025, and plans for 18 and 21 year editions in the future, the brand appears to be all in on flexing its Tennessee whiskey in ways many never thought possible not too long ago.

Jack Daniel’s Old No. 7 Tennessee Whiskey has always been sweet, with tempered fruit and an oaky backbone. We’ve seen how this can ebb and flow in the previous batches of the 10 Year and 12 Year. For instance, the 12 Year Batch 1 was very fruit-forward, and its follow-up, Batch 2, was more oak-forward. Jack Daniel’s 14 Year better balances these two tentpole traits. Its fruity notes are heavier and deeper in flavor, and its oak component is thick and robust but offset by its sweetness. Though many flavor consistencies run through the 10, 12, and 14 Year batches, their distinction is rooted in how each batch highlights certain traits.

For the 14 Year Batch 1, everything tastes a shade darker, a touch drier, and more developed. In particular, the red cherry notes from the brand’s best release to date, 12 Year Batch 1, are now darker cherry, molasses is now more of a bootstrap molasses, and sweet oak is still sweet but more charred, aged, and slightly musty. So, while the 14 Year doesn’t reinvent what aged Jack Daniel’s whiskey tastes like, its variation is the first time anyone has tasted Jack this old in over 100 years. It’s a particular treat for hardcore Jack fans, but anyone fascinated by how age directly affects how a whiskey tastes will adore what this entire lineup offers.

Previous editions of Jack Daniel’s 10 Year and 12 Year have been underpriced for what they are and that’s not even taking into account what other brands are charging for their limited releases. Knowing their roadmap at the time of the release of Batch 1 of the 10 Year gave them room to grow into their line as it expanded. In 2022, 10 Year Batch 1 started at $70 and is now $85 for Batch 4. The 12 Year Batch 1 started at $85 and is now $95 for Batch 3. But now with the launch of the 14 Year at $150, we’re seeing a $55 jump for two additional years of aging, yet it still remains grossly underpriced compared to the market. With the majority of Kentucky limited releases averaging $200, many craft limited releases going above that, and recent 15 year old releases, including Russells Reserve 15 Year Bourbon (117.2 proof/$225), Bluegrass Distillers Elkwood Reserve 15 Year Single Barrel Bourbon (113 proof/$225), and Doc Holliday 15 Year Old Single Barrel Bourbon (123 proof/$400), its clear Jack Daniel’s undercut the competition in a rather significant way. Customers can finally claim a win for their side regarding value directed their way on a limited-edition release.

Every release in Jack Daniel’s Aged Series has been a great-tasting whiskey, and combined with great value-based pricing, whiskey drinkers are the ones who benefit the most. While it could be said that the series lacks significant variation between its batches, with only eight batches released so far, it’s still the early days. At this point, it seems like the company is letting the whiskey do the talking and isn’t blending batches to conform to any particular flavor profile or style. That will likely change as they continually ramp up the number of barrels they put away for their Aged Series.

There is plenty of evidence that age doesn’t necessarily make a whiskey better, but Jack Daniel’s, whether they wanted to or not, has shown that sometimes it absolutely does. Jack Daniel’s Aged Series is a testament to the confidence the company has in its whiskey as they are one of the few companies that release its products in a full-scale age vertical, giving whiskey drinkers a true peak behind the curtain and allowing them to taste Jack Daniel’s whiskey as it matures. Jack Daniel’s 14 Year is another grandstand release from the Lynchburg, Tennessee company, that easily ties Jack Daniel’s 12 Year Batch 1 for the best modern release of Jack ever.