Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel Select Whiskey Review

Updated December 23, 2020

By Richard Thomas

Rating: B+

The single barrel whiskey concept, in America at least, began with the introduction of Blanton’s in 1984 by the legendary Master Distiller Elmer T. Lee. Back then, however, that Frankfort, Kentucky distillery was known as the George T. Stagg Distillery. It wouldn’t be renamed Buffalo Trace until 2001, and was a relatively obscure outpost in the liquor business. Lee introduced single barrel whiskey as an American answer to the success of Scottish single malts; at the same time, another relatively obscure distillery, Maker’s Mark, was positioning itself as a luxury, small batch product.

A couple of years later, the biggest name in American Whiskey, Jack Daniel’s, cut the proof on its flagship Old No. 7 “Black Label” expression from 90 to 86. The whiskey was cut again in 2002, all the way down to the minimum of 80 proof. In my mind, this was symbolic of what Lynchburg was about at that time: they put an overwhelming emphasis on producing mass market whiskey for a global palate. During a period where other American whiskey distillers were introducing new, distinctive and boldly flavored brands in an effort to reinvent themselves, JD seemed to be moving in the other direction. Their answers to small batch (Gentleman Jack) and single barrel were unremarkable; I continue to think of Gentleman Jack as unremarkable to this day.

Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel Select, on the other hand, has received an upgrade on both the inside and outside. The look of the bottle is much more refined; insofar as what goes into that bottle, improving a single barrel expression is both as simple and as complicated as choosing better (and perhaps fewer) barrels to bottle. Ten years ago, I thought their barrel selection for Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel yielded a product little better than Old No. 7; today, Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel Select (94 proof) is a markedly better expression.

Jack Daniels Single Barrel Whiskey

The old look of Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel
(Credit: Brown-Forman)

The Whiskey
A pour of JD SB Select has a light amber/darkened copper look to it. The scent draws a sweet character from candy corn, banana chips and vanilla, accented by toasted oak and a hint of nuts.

Sipping on the whiskey is characteristically mellow, that being a signature of Jack Daniel’s, but with no sacrifice of character. Once again, it’s quite sweet, with brown sugar, vanilla and maple, plus slices of fresh banana. A few slivers of spicy, oak-driven flavor have just enough presence to keep things interesting, but without disturbing the mellow, relaxing experience of the whiskey. I found the finish mild and minty.

Jack Daniel’s doesn’t produce bold and ballsy whiskey. It’s not a characteristic one finds, not even in its cask strength expressions. What they do well down in Lynchburg, Tennessee is produce mellow sipping whiskey. During the last decade, they’ve expanded out of that base, adding more and more character and complexity to that fundamentally mellow foundation. This Single Barrel Select is a sound example of that growth.

The Price
A survey of retailers suggests you should expect to pay between $45 and $55 for this bottle.

5 comments

  1. Wow, that’s harsh… I don’t like JD, but I found the single barrel very rich and interesting, with a unique intense mintiness that sizzles on the tongue, like a tic-tac. Well, after all, single barrels will differ from each other…

  2. You have a point, but single barrels in regular production are chosen to stay within certain flavor parameters. JD is no exception. There is some variation, but not a wide variation.

  3. Agree that seems a bit harsh, but tastes differ. I had an opportunity to taste “single barrel” Jack from a not quite empty barrel purchased off the cooperage dock in Louisville some 25 years ago. One might acquire a barrel like this for decorative use, as they were returned from Lynchburg to Louisville to be shooked for transport to Scotland. Granted it needed to be run through a coffee filter to remove the barrel bits, but it was dark, rich, smooth and flavorful.

    I’m not much of a fan of the curent JD Black Label, but the single barrel honestly surprised me by being as smooth as I remember. I think it tastes like it was intended. I inherited an old unopened bottle of 90 proof JD Black. I may have to open it and compare. Let me also say Knob Creek is my current affordable favorite, but my palate prefers slightly sweeter bourbons.

  4. Though I don’t like Jack Daniel’s much, the single barrel is interesting. The color of this drink is eye-catching. Irony other drinks from JD are not worth it.

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