Jack Daniel’s American Single Malt Whiskey (Oloroso Sherry Cask) Review

There’s no denying that this is an extremely exciting time for malt whiskey in the U.S. market. Finally granted official acknowledgement (and definition) by the Tax and Trade Bureau (the TTB) after decades of existing as a quasi-style, the nascent American Single Malt category is seeing companies flock to it from every direction, and rising consumer interest. Major players like Jim Beam have been bringing their full-time American single malts to market, and it’s not like the country’s largest whiskey brand was going to be left out for long. Following some limited edition experiments in malt whiskey, Jack Daniel’s has released its own first permanent expression crafted from 100% malted barley, in the form of the simply named Jack Daniel’s American Single Malt Whiskey. That brand is finished in oloroso sherry casks, mirroring the way that many malts are finished in Scotland and elsewhere abroad.

Specifically, as a single malt, this is a 100% malted barley product from a single distillery. It undergoes the classic Jack Daniel’s charcoal mellowing process and is initially aged in newly charred American white oak for at least four years. It then receives a finish in Spanish oloroso sherry casks from Antonio Paez Lobato Cooperage for two more years, before being bottled at an approachable 45% ABV (90 proof). Sound good? Here’s the more challenging news: This product is a travel exclusive, which means that American consumers will likely only be able to find and purchase bottles from duty-free retail shops in various airports around the globe. On the plus side, that means you’ll get a 1-liter bottle for the $100 MSRP, which is often a nice upside of duty-free buying.

So with that said, let’s get into this first permanent American single malt expression from Jack Daniel’s, and see how it compares with similar malts out of Scotland.

On the nose, Jack Daniel’s American Single Malt Whiskey is rich and toasty in nature, and you get a good sense of its moderate age statement–the fresher graininess is present but giving way to toastier impressions of biscuits and bread crust, with sweeter layers of nutty toffee. Dried fruit is present in a big way, very sweet or candied and concentrated, with notes of sultana and prune. Oak is light, though notably charred in character.

On the palate, this is sweet and fruit forward, and somewhat spicy as well. I’m getting toffee again, with nuts, and very sweet dried fruit/vinous notes, reminding me of the concentrated nature of ice wine. There’s some chocolate and mocha roastiness, along with vanilla cream. The specifically “oloroso sherry-like” character of drier, oxidized nuttiness is something that is significantly more subtle, but it’s there if you search for it–the sherry instead is coming through more in the deep, vinous fruitiness, transitioning into sweet, lingering roasted oak.

At the end of the day, this strikes me as a good approximation of what really characterizes the idea of “American single malt,” even when it’s received a finish typical of so many Speyside or Highland malts. It comes down especially to the newly charred oak casks the spirit matured in for its first four years, which have imparted that lingering roastiness. That char is a key component in the “American” aspect of the finished spirit, and it makes for a nice pairing with what the oloroso sherry cask finish is bringing to the table. The end result: Decadent but still pretty drinkable thanks to the low proof, this is an approachable and easy sipper with enough complexity to still render it interesting. For those curious about American single malt whiskeys, this could be an excellent place to start.

Distillery: Jack Daniel’s
City: Lynchburg, TN
Style: American single malt whiskey
ABV: 45% (90 proof)
Availability: 1L bottles, $100 MSRP

Jim Vorel is a Paste staff writer and resident beer and liquor geek. You can follow him on Twitter for more drink writing.