Jack Daniel’s set out to celebrate the art and skill of barrel making with the release of Heritage Barrel. According to the company, the barrels are slowly heated to achieve a deeper and richer toasted layer before being charred. The whiskey enters the barrel at 100 proof, a lower entry proof than standard releases, and was aged in the highest levels of the company’s highest elevated barrelhouse. This release is limited to 200 barrels, each bottled as a single barrel.

A delicate yet rich array of fresh baked banana bread, french vanilla ice cream, cherry, and mild oak make up the nose. Really nice. The palate does a 180 and introduces pepper, cinnamon, toasted oak, and a mingling of baking spice. I would have liked a little more sweetness to help balance the spice notes, but this is quite a unique tasting offering. It finishes a bit dry and with a long mild oak aftertaste.

This “Heritage Barrel” concept turns out to be more than just a marketing gimmick. The process used to make this created a flavorful and complex tasting whiskey. It’s still within the Jack Daniel’s flavor wheelhouse, but altered enough to justify itself proudly. Again, some additional sweet notes would have really made this whiskey an out-of-the-ballpark home run. Yet, this is a very enjoyable pour and worth seeking out immediately, as this limited release is already becoming difficult to find. This is another well-crafted whiskey in the Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel Collection.

‍The sample used for this review was provided at no cost courtesy of Jack Daniel’s. We thank them for the sample and for allowing us to review it with no strings attached. We ended up liking it and purchasing out own bottle after tasting it.