Jack Daniel’s Bottled In Bond Tennessee Whiskey Review

By Richard Thomas

Rating: B

Ironically, Jack Daniel’s introduction of a Bottled In Bond version of their Tennessee Whiskey, billed as a testimony to the heritage of the brand, also points directly to how the Bottled In Bond Act of 1897 is something of a dusty antique. Jack Daniel’s introduced its iconic square bottle in 1895, and the Progressive Era whiskey law would follow just a couple of years later. The look of Jack Daniel’s and Bonded whiskeys are very much creatures of the same era.

In that era, the Bottled In Bond Act was necessary (indeed, it was demanded by big bourbon distillers) to protect both consumers and those companies with an investment in making good whiskey from cheap, low quality and sometimes ersatz knock-offs. In modern times, getting snookered by neutral grain spirits colored with tobacco juice and hawked as whiskey is no longer a concern, and at the same time the average age of most mass market whiskeys on the market is equal to or greater than the four years required by the Bottled In Bond law.

So, why should you take an interest in Jack Daniel’s Bottled In Bond, given that it’s not necessarily older than normal JD? Two practical reasons come to mind. First, it’s bottled at 100 proof. That is 5% ABV higher than even the original mark for JD, 90 proof, let alone its current 80 proof. Second, it comes in a 1L bottle and is a good buy at the price. Mind you, this is a travel-retail only item, but it makes for a nice, big bottle to bring home.

The Whiskey
In the glass, JD Bonded has a solid, mid-amber coloring. The scent is solidly Jack Daniel’s: brown sugar and caramel sweet, a touch spicy, a touch nutty, plus a touch of char. It’s a mellow, subdued scent, although here it is noticeably stronger than is usually the case with Jack Daniel’s Black Label.

The flavor holds with the brown sugar, caramel and nuttiness, but to this adds a little creamy, banana milkshake. The finish turns a bit spicy and a bit woody, and lingers for a spell.

This is one of those Jack Daniel’s expressions that takes the core flavor profile of classic JD and builds on it, rather than taking it to different places. So, if you like JD, this is definitely something you want to pick up at the airport.

The Price
A very reasonable $37.99 for a one-liter bottle.