Jack Daniel’s has enough products in its range to please almost everyone, but when it comes to the Single Barrel range, things start to get serious.
Choosing a Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel is a move toward something more focused, more characterful, and a little more unique from the famous Tennessee whiskey brand. Higher ABVs, a fancy decanter, and a different side of Tennessee whiskey storytelling all come into play. But what exactly is the Heritage Barrel? You could certainly say that this is one of the more serious styles in the range, with a stronger profile built in from the very start of production.
What Is Jack Daniel’s Heritage Barrel?
Made from the same mash bill as the rest of the Jack Daniel’s range, that’s where the similarities largely stop. As a new-make spirit, this liquid enters the barrel at a lower proof of 100, compared to the standard 125. It is also matured in what are labeled as “Heritage Barrels.” These are casks that have been heavily toasted and lightly charred. When you combine the lower entry proof with that barrel toasting, it allows for greater flavor and color extraction from the wood.
The stocks are then placed on the top floor of the Coy Hill rickhouses for maximum flavor extraction. Aging on those top floors exposes the whiskey to the highest heat in the warehouse, allowing the spirit and wood to fully interact over the 7 to 8 years that the whiskey spends in the cask. The final product is then bottled at 50% ABV.
How Does Barrel Toasting Affect The Flavor?
Prioritizing toasting over charring is an interesting topic when it comes to oak. To cut a long story short, toasting is typically a low and slow process. The barrels are placed over a smaller, more controlled flame to caramelize the wood sugars deeper into the staves. This gives you deep heat penetration without burning the wood, creating flavor profiles that are softer, sweeter, and a little more tropical.
Regular barrel charring happens over a naked, powerful flame for a short period of time before the fire is extinguished with water. The higher heat breaks down the wood and leaves a layer of carbon on the surface.
Heritage Barrel Vs. Single Barrel
Both are quite a step up from your regular bottle of Old No. 7 or Gentleman Jack. However, they are inherently different. The regular Single Barrel release is all about trying Jack Daniel’s in a more focused format, without moving into barrel proof territory. It gives you the chance to explore the unique flavors of particular barrels and see how they stand apart from one another. It is a toastier, warmer, more complex offering that varies from release to release.
The Heritage Barrel, on the other hand, is an experiment in entry proof and wood style. It showcases just how intensely flavored and different a Jack Daniel’s product can be. The lower entry proof and toasted barrel give you more wood sugars, more vanilla, more almond, and more coconut flavors. It is also bottled at a higher proof, 50% ABV compared to 45%, and Heritage Barrel is non-chill filtered, meaning you keep more of those heavier compounds from the cask.
What Is The MSRP Of Jack Daniel’s Heritage Barrel?
Current pricing from Jack Daniel’s has the product at $69.99, which is a pretty good deal for what this is. You do have to bear in mind that prices will vary by state and around the world. Sadly, this is not available in my market over here in the UK. Hopefully one day.
Is Jack Daniel’s Heritage Barrel Worth Buying?
100%. The sample that I tried was everything great about Single Barrel, amplified with additional depth and strength. It is sweeter and a little more delicate in places, but the finish lingers and offers a long-lasting chewiness that reminds you why Jack Daniel’s has become the behemoth that it is.
Final Thoughts On Jack Daniel’s Heritage Barrel
This is a fabulous release that has already picked up strong reviews and some independent awards from those who love it. Personally, I think it is a brilliant tasting whiskey that deserves a little more presence on shelves across the globe. The UK would eat this release up in no time.
Read the full article at Jack Daniel’s Heritage Barrel: The Whiskey Most People Haven’t Tried Yet
