Review: Jack Daniel’s 14 Years Old Batch 1, 12 Years Old Batch 3, and 10 Years Old Batch 4 (2025)
I wasn’t sure I saw this one coming: On the heels of Jack Daniel’s first two age-stated releases, JD 10 Years Old and JD 12 Years Old, the Lynchburg, Tennessee-based distillery has added a third sibling, Jack Daniel’s 14 Years Old. Intriguingly, it’s the first 14-year-old expression of Jack Daniel’s produced since Jack Daniel himself was alive. Also intriguingly, unlike JD 10 (97 proof) and JD 12 (107 proof), JD 14 is bottled at cask strength (126.3 proof), a fact which will surely only add to its significant appeal on the market.
As with Jack Daniel’s 10 and 12, Jack Daniel’s 14 Years Old will be an annual release denoted with a batch number. JD 10 is now on Batch 4, while JD 12 is on Batch 3. We’ve reviewed every batch of all these whiskeys since they were launched, and with this review we add three more to that collection. As always, these are all charcoal-mellowed Tennessee whiskeys made from a mash of 80% corn, 12% barley, and 8% rye — the classic JD bourbon mash.
What’s next? JD master distiller Chris Fletcher has eyes on a 16 year old and a 21 year old expression down the line, assuming the quality holds up and the angels are aligned. That would complete the family of age-stated whiskeys that Jack Daniel released during his lifetime.
JD’s age-stated release have a considerable variation from year to year — on purpose — so let’s dive into this trio with no expectations attached. The MSRPs for these whiskeys are $150, $95, and $85, but (unfortunately) more representative street prices are reported below. Availability begins this summer.
Jack Daniel’s 10 Years Old Batch 4 (2025) – Quite fruity up top, with aromas of apples and berries mashed into a swirl of caramel and cream. Apple pie a la mode isn’t a bad way to start things off, but light notes of char help a more savory edge rise from the glass in time. The palate is plenty sweet, with a luscious creme brulee body starting things off while gingerbread notes build. A powerful mint character feels positively julep-like late in the game, pairing well with the whiskey’s gently sugary finish to create a sweet mint tea character. At 97 proof there is nothing at all punchy about this batch of the 10 Year Old, and in fact it ends up feeling almost too delicate — even without comparing to the 12 and the 14. (In fact I tasted these starting with the 10.) That said, it’s a night and day difference vs. last year’s release and one of my favorite batches of the 10 Year Old to date. 97 proof. A- / $200 (700ml) [BUY IT NOW FROM FROOTBAT] [BUY IT NOW FROM RESERVEBAR] [BUY IT NOW FROM CASKERS]
Jack Daniel’s 12 Years Old Batch 3 (2025) – Aggressive vanilla up top makes for a nose that’s heavy with sweetness and which is complemented by lashings of orange peel, ginger, and a toasted marshmallow character that evokes some latent barrel char. That gingery quality really impregnates the palate, where it pairs beautifully with a doughy, buttery quality that ventures eventually into notes of marzipan, dusted with baking spice. The barrel influence becomes more insistent with some air time, though again the char has a significant burnt sugar character to it rather than anything approaching austerity or tarriness. There’s plenty of classic JD corniness here, but even that hits all the right spots, evoking Cracker Jack and, later, more of a cinnamon toast note. Lots of dark brown sugar and a pinch of red pepper on the finish make for a sweet-and-spicy experience that is ultimately very hard to put down. The top batch to date for the 12 year old, without question. 107 proof. A / $300 (700ml) [BUY IT NOW FROM RESERVEBAR]
Jack Daniel’s 14 Years Old Batch 1 (2025) – This is much a different animal for this series, in large part because of the cask strength presentation but also clearly thanks to the extra aging. Fletcher notes that JD’s top-floor ricks get so hot that older stock is now being moved to lower floors to reduce the impact the barrel has on the whiskey and prevent overly wood-driven notes from dominating. But round one for JD 14 nonetheless showcases the distillery at its most aggressive, a heavy exploration of the barrel from the start. This is more in line with some of the cask-strength Jack Daniel’s bottlings I’ve encountered in prior tastings, all earth and pepper and leather from the start. Tobacco and peppery roasted meat notes dominate, giving the nose a distinct roast beef aroma that is hard to shake. Tannic and tough, elements of dark chocolate at least add some level of nuance with air time. The palate is very hot, sharp, and biting. Notes of gunpowder and hot asphalt are matched with fiery red pepper notes, before, at last, some sweeter spices come into focus — cinnamon, cloves, and anise. Black cherry notes provide some needed fruit, though a thyme element continues the sharper, somewhat tannic theme. Fans of bruising cask strength experiences will be in hog heaven, but the whiskey is desperate for water, as the finish is oaky and extracted without it. Appropriately tempered things settle down a bit, the conclusion evoking clear flavors of sweetened black tea. This unfortunately comes at the expense of some of the whiskey’s sense of vibrancy, rendering it comparatively inert. It’s a nice try but it just isn’t showing its best, particularly in comparison to two younger, standout companion releases. I’m already looking forward to seeing what happens with Batch 2. 126.3 proof. B / not yet released, but expect ~$500+ (700ml)
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