If you haven’t been paying attention, it’s easy to assume that Jack Daniel’s is an old-guard brand content to do things the way they’ve always been done. After all, its ubiquitous Old No. 7 whiskey is a longtime staple in bars and on shelves across the country.
But in recent years, the Tennessee whiskey brand has introduced a handful of new expressions, including a rye whiskey. Last year, they added two more expressions to the core range: Jack Daniel’s Bonded and Jack Daniel’s Triple Mash. They also put out a limited release twice-barreled single malt. And, if you’re keeping score, earlier this year brought a new Jack and Coke RTD. So, they’ve been busy.
Now, the company has released what is perhaps its most interesting bottle yet. Jack Daniel’s American Single Malt Whiskey is the distillery’s first permanent expression crafted from 100% malted barley.
The malted barley mash is ground, fermented, and distilled in Lynchburg, Tennessee. The whiskey is charcoal mellowed and then aged in new, charred American oak barrels before moving into Oloroso sherry casks for an additional three years. It’s bottled at 90-proof, or 45% alcohol-by-volume.
Master Distiller Chris Fletcher said they began experimenting with a 100% malt grain bill back in 2012, and they wanted to craft something that was uniquely Jack Daniel’s. This is the result of that effort.
Jack Daniel’s American Single Malt is described as rich and complex, with aromas of soft oak, fruit, and cocoa, plus notes of dark chocolate-covered nuts and berries. There’s a subtly sweet Oloroso sherry finish.
One important note: Jack Daniel’s is making this new whiskey a bit harder to find, as it won’t make appearances at your local bar or liquor store. Instead, it’s marked for global travel retail, which means duty free shops around the world. So, you’ll have to travel to get it. And when you do, leave some room in your luggage for the one-liter bottle, which should cost about $99.
