Jack Daniel's Single Barrel Heritage Barrel (2019 Release)

I drank 31 different bourbons in one night at this tasting and this is one of the only ones that truly stood out. Very complex and rich. Tobacco and banana bread as you’d expect but there was a toasted pecan note too. It’s so good. I was able to try this during a very long night of whiskey tasting, but I was unfortunately unable to take good notes. I use the rating scale below. Distiller uses a scale of 5 and I use a scale of 10, but I’m sure you’re not too drunk to do the math! 1. Disgusting - So bad I poured it out. 2. Poor - I wouldn't consume by choice. 3. Bad - Multiple flaws. 4. Below average - Not bad, but many things I'd rather have. 5. Good - Just average. 6. Very Good - Better than average. 7. Great - Well above average. 8. Excellent - In a league of its own. 9. Incredible - An all-time favorite. 10. Perfect

Been a lot of hype on this one and ran into a friend of a friend with a case so I was able to snag a bottle. Nose - vanilla bomb, some oak, some banana. Taste - more vanilla, this is heavy vanilla, very candied and sweet. I think of the oak here as a toasted barrel type finish. You get some of that jack banana and dr pepper as well, but the underlying flavor is all vanilla. The abv comes in about right but I guess a bit soft vs the double barrel barrel proof. Anyway, really good dram from jack, showcasing their over the top sweet profile in a very nicely made and drinkable version. 3 stars, well above average whisky and an impressive job by jack.

The nose is at first, surprisingly ester- and ethanol-forward. After a moment it is dominated by extremely overripe, mushy bananas, Nilla Wafers, butterscotch pudding, and something a bit like pear skins. Almost too sweet on the nose. The palate is also extremely sweet, though overall quite pleasant. It is immediately evocative of classic banana pudding, coming out as more Nilla Wafers, whipped cream,banana cream pie, and melted vanilla ice cream. On a second sip, there’s an element that reminds me of slightly overcooked butter cookies and dulce de leche. The finish is quite short, with a burst of cinnamon and baked apple, and a lingering note of fresh apples, vanilla, and browned butter. Good but wayyyy too sweet. Definitely the best Jack Daniel’s that I’ve had (still haven’t tried the barrel proof), but a bit more sweet and friendly then I typically prefer. Overall the flavor and experience is uniquely distinct from being a classic bourbon (yes I know it’s a TN whiskey). Fortunately it shies away from the classic Jack Daniel’s banana peel notes, offering a rich, tasty, entry level offering for those that want to spend a little more on a premium product without going full bore on a barrel proof offering. Still just a little too sweet for my preferences.

I’m getting something funky on this. I get the toasted barrel but I don’t know if it’s tobacco, leather, or some other earthy note that is a bit off-putting. This is the only bottle I’ve opened and I’m wary to open another. I’ve given this bottle at least a month and it hasn’t softened. Maybe it’s cork rot? It’s almost... moss-like in the flavor. I was expecting really good things and this feels closer to a drain pour.

I really like this. It’s JD so I feel it gets overlooked. Neat. Nose is sweet caramel maple. Taste is sweet caramel and oaky with a dry caramel oaky peanut finish.