Now that the rush to 500 whisky reviews is over, I can refocus and get caught up with everything else I’ve been drinking and compiling notes for. Let’s start with this amazing Jack Daniel’s pour I received from @dubz480 out in Arizona: Heritage SB whiskey. This was a special bottling taken from just 200 hand selected casks, it’s also bottled at 100 proof versus the normal 94 of the single barrel line. It’s a beautiful rich mahogany/copper in color and makes very oily and fat legs after a nice little spin around your glass. It also leaves behind the tiniest of droplets when you’re done playing with it- evidence of the high proof. The nose definitely smells like a typical JD- minus the crazy banana note (and how wonderful that is). There’s clove and some very light dill and traces of all spice if you really give it some time and get down in there. The lingering notes of caramel popcorn and peppered oak really hold it all together- spicy, but sweet...and somehow familiar. The palate comes across as pretty hot, and it should, which allows more flavors to settle across the tongue: spiced oak chips, more all spice and something close to the dessert bananas foster. The heat definitely keeps you focused because if you swallow too quickly it’ll definitely take your breath. The finish is ultra long and steadily warming with a heavy mouth coat that starts out feeling oily, but the constant heat turns it dry. Lingering caramel and buttered popcorn close things out very well. This is hands down the best JD whiskey I’ve ever had. It’s also evidence they need to bottle the standard stuff with an elevated proof- especially if it brings out more flavors than just bananas. Overall, as a Jack Daniels release it’s the 5-star dram of the family- on its own as a whiskey is still a 4-4.25 star one. Yeah, you can find better bourbon a lot easier but that’s water under the bridge. If you are a true JD fan then you need to seek out a bottle or pour of this one. Cheers.