Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel Barrel Proof, the newest member of the Jack Daniel’s family, is hitting shelves August 2015 at a suggested retail price of $65.  When I heard the news, I couldn’t wait to try this whiskey.  I’m a fan of their Single Barrel, and thoroughly enjoyed their Sinatra Select release.  Now we get a single barrel whiskey from them at barrel proof, unfiltered and uncut.  This is the closest most of us will ever get to tasting what Jack Daniel’s Master Distiller Jeff Arnett samples on a regular basis in the barrel warehouses.  It’s virtually the same thing he’s tasting.

“As master distiller at Jack Daniel’s, I get the privilege of traveling to the top floors of our barrelhouses in Lynchburg and hand drilling individual barrels. This provides me the rare opportunity to taste Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Whiskey in its purest form; unfiltered and uncut.  I’m always amazed at the intensity of the aromas and the deep amber colors, and yet at the same time, the exceptional smoothness of the whiskey at this higher proof point. After years of thinking about and discussing a barrel proof offering from Jack Daniel’s, we believe that now is the perfect time to make this available to all of our friends around the world. I’m confident that everyone will be as impressed as I was the first time I tasted this unique form of Single Barrel whiskey.” – Jack Daniel’s Master Distiller Jeff Arnett

Since this permanent addition to the Jack Daniel’s lineup is a single barrel, there will be a slight variation in flavor from barrel to barrel.  The proof will also vary barrel to barrel, from 125 proof to a mouth-numbing 140 proof.  My sample came from Warehouse 2-45; 4th Floor at 134.6 proof.

On the nose there’s a huge concentration of toasted oak, sweet vanilla, dark brown sugar and roasted sweet corn.  What you smell is what you taste here.  Robust vanilla and charred oak notes coming through in a big way in this full bodied whiskey.  Toffee and caramel provide some sweetness, and the oak gives us a little spice.  Underneath is some sweet corn, but it’s not cloyingly sweet.  The finish is long and carries over the vanilla and toasted oak notes.

This is one fantastic whiskey.  It’s everything you love about Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Whiskey turned up to 11.  There’s no need to add water – JD Single Barrel Barrel Proof does a good job at handling its high proof.  Pour a glass and take your time with this one.