Review: Jack Daniel’s Distillery Series Tennessee Whiskey Finished in Oloroso Sherry Casks

The next Distillery Series release from Jack Daniel’s has arrived, and it’s one of the most surprising I’ve seen from the brand to date. The spin with this release — an experimental release that will only be sold in Tennessee for a limited time — is that after its initial aging in new charred oak barrels, it is finished in Oloroso sherry casks — for three years. It’s still a Tennessee Whiskey, so the base spirit undergoes the standard charcoal mellowing process that is an iconic part of the JD recipe.

Let’s give this exotic offering a whirl.

The leathery richness of sherry is well-represented here, with a nose that exudes oxidized wine, brewed tea, and polished wood. It develops well in the glass to become increasingly thick with notes of cola and bay leaf, those latter notes of green herbs continuing to build with time. The nose may have you expecting a hoary old sherry bomb, but the palate finds a whiskey that is surprisingly sweet and well-rounded, a lively and engaging combination of Old and New World styles that one rarely sees outside of oddball blends. Sweet caramel and honey settle a modest peanut note, moving from more traditional bourbon flavors back into sherry territory. That rich and lightly leathery quality continues, culminating in a burst of orange oil, hazelnuts, and more oiled wood as the finish arrives.

All told, this is a wholly unexpected experience from Jack Daniel’s, and one that I kept going back to again and again. If JD was to take any of its recent experiments and make them full-time releases, this would be my candidate, no question.

90 proof.

A / $42 (375ml) / jackdaniels.com

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