I recently posted a picture of this Jack Daniel’s 10 Year Old on Instagram and was immediately met with some criticism. The sentiment was that someone who drinks ‘high-end’ whiskey should not be bothering with a brand like Jack Daniel’s. But at the end of the day, haters are going to hate. People love to dismiss the big names, but the fact of the matter is that Jack Daniel’s produces some incredibly high-quality liquid. When a distillery that rarely uses age statements puts a number like ‘10 Year Old’ on the bottle, you have to start paying attention.
Unlike my usual approach of sampling several different drams in a night, I recently had the chance to sit down with a friend and focus solely on this release. We poured two or three ounces each and really got to know this particular whiskey. This focused time was a welcome change, allowing me to fully appreciate the spirit’s depth without distraction. After spending a proper evening with it, I can confidently say I am very impressed. This bottle is worth taking your time with.
On the nose, you find those classic Jack Daniel’s notes, but they are intensified, ironed out, and presented with more finesse and robustness. It is a full-on dessert experience, dominated by rich notes of caramelized banana, banana bread, and even a lovely banana custard. This is followed by waves of burnt toffee and peanut brittle. The palate delivers on that promise. The viscosity is great, bringing forward flavors of a burnt vanilla crème brûlée. A pleasant charred oak note is present, but it never becomes overly woody, and the finish is excellent.
This is, simply put, a very good whiskey, earning an 88 in my book. It is not your typical Jack Daniel’s No. 7.
At its retail price, I believe it is worth every penny and an automatic buy if you see it. However, I would not pay the inflated secondary market prices. It is an excellent whiskey, but maybe not worth double the retail cost. If you find it, I highly recommend you crack it open and enjoy it rather than letting it collect dust on a shelf.
The Jack Daniel’s 10 Year Old proves that we should always look past the label and focus on the quality of the liquid in the bottle. What are your thoughts on age-stated releases from the major distilleries?
To see my tasting of Jack Daniel’s 10 Year Old, watch my YouTube video.
Read the full article at Forget the Haters: Why the Jack Daniel’s 10 Year Old Is Worth Every Penny
