Jack Daniel’s 12 Year Review – Batch 2
“Jack Daniel’s Aged Series”
The new Jack Daniel’s Aged Series was first introduced in 2022 with Jack Daniel’s 10 Year. In 2023 they released Jack Daniel’s 10 Year Batch 02 and Jack Daniel’s 12 Year Batch 01. They are both now an annual release, with the 10 Year being locked in at 97 proof, but the 12 Year (currently at 107 proof), not necessarily being locked in at that proof going forward. Today, I have the opportunity to pour a dram and work on the Jack Daniel’s 12 Year review for Batch 02 (2024).
In 2023 the company released this statement about the Aged Series, “The Jack Daniel Distillery is one of the most complete whiskey distilleries in the world, and we’re fortunate to have a deep history to draw inspiration from and craft premium whiskeys in a way that stays true to our heritage of quality and innovation,” said Chris Fletcher, Jack Daniel’s Master Distiller. “In 2022 we released our first age-stated whiskey since the early 1900s…and were thrilled with the overwhelmingly positive response.” Well, now it is a year later and people, including me, are still clamoring for both, but especially for the 12 Year.
Series: Jack Daniel’s Aged Series
Batch: 02 (2024)
Classification: Tennessee Whiskey
Age: 12 years
Proof: 107
Proof Designation: na
Filtered Status: Non-Chill Filtered
Special Process: Lincoln County Process
Mash bill: 80% Corn, 8% Rye, 12% Malted Barley
Barrel Char Level: ??
Barrel Entry Proof: 125
Distillate Source: Jack Daniel Distillery
Distillery: Jack Daniel Distillery
Company: Brown–Forman Corporation
Bottled By: Jack Daniel Distillery
Distilled/Aging Location: Lynchburg, Tennessee
Master Distiller: Chris Fletcher
Release Date: February 2024
Batch Notes: batch size is 36,000 bottles
MSRP: $94.99
Secondary Market: $250 – $400
Availability: Low/Rare
Jack Daniel’s 12 Year Review – Batch 2
My tasting reviews are unique in that I include the notes of several well-known whiskey critics. The hope is that this format will help me and others to explore and expand their tasting experience. After you have taken your own tasting notes, read the reviews and see if there is a flavor note that others discerned that now you can detect as well.
For this tasting: Opened Bottle (about 2 weeks), Glencairn Glass, Neat, Room Temp, Breathe: 5 minutes
Legs
It took about 5 seconds for beads to form on the crown, 8 seconds for legs to start to drop, and 16 seconds for several legs to reach the bowl.
Nose
The nose is spectacularly complex! Sweet notes of cracker jacks, caramel corn, and peanut brittle nicely contrasted with barrel char, smoky-sweet oak and leather with hints of vanilla, cocoa, toasted marshmallow, anise and maple syrup. Very complex yet nicely balanced.
Other Reviewer’s Perceptions
Mash & Drum: Smells great. I’m getting the sweetness. It is very elevated above the 10 year. It has an intense sweetness vibe. It’s a little maple forward, some sweet tobacco, a little butterscotch. I love it. A little bananas foster, a little kick of rum with that extra maple sweetness.
Whiskey Raiders: Rich oak, sweet buttercream, heavy banana, praline, peanut brittle and toffee.
Bourbon Bossman: Maple, Brown Sugar, Vanilla, Gram Cracker, Banana Chips, and Oak.
Palate
Lots of pleasant dark notes on the palate. Dark caramel, molasses, sweet leather, tobacco, roasted peanuts, a pleasant barrel char, and mature old oak with some mocha, crème brûlée, a hint of nutmeg and savory black pepper along with some dried fig and a touch of banana.
Other Reviewer’s Perceptions
Mash & Drum: Good viscousity, a burst of butterscotch, some toffee, its pretty sweet, some chocolate on the back end. It’s richer and deeper than the 10 year. Batch 2 sips a little easier than batch 1 and is a little sweeter, while batch 1 is a little spicier.
Whiskey Raiders: Rich palate. Heavy sweetness, peanut brittle and banana toffee, brûlée, sweet toffee, caramel and pepper.
Bourbon Bossman: Maple Long John Doughnut, Baking Spice, Caramel, Banana, Vanilla, and Oak.
Finish
The finish is long, hitting a little spicy at first but quickly followed with a sweet-dry maple char, caramel, sweet leather, peanuts and some banana.
Other Reviewer’s Perceptions
Mash & Drum: na
Whiskey Raiders: The finish is long, rich, sweet, complex and toffee-driven.
Bourbon Bossman: Medium to Long with Notes of Sweet Caramel, Dry Oak, and Baking Spices.
Mouthfeel
The mouthfeel is pleasantly creamy and viscous, coating the tongue and holding the flavors for a prolonged finish.
The Burn
4 out of 5. This means that the burn from the alcohol is a bit lower (5% to 9%) than what I would expect it to be. I would guess this to be around 100 proof, not 107 proof.
Tongue Map Impressions
The purpose of this heading is to explore where flavors for Jack Daniel’s 12 year Batch 2 hit on my Front, Mid, and Back Palate. The hope is that by tasting with more intention and awareness that I will better understand where flavors appear on my palate and therefore help me to better identify flavors.
- Front Palate: spiciness, ethanol, sweetness, dryness.
- Mid Palate: banana, caramel corn, peanut brittle, cracker jacks, marshmallow.
- Back Palate: barrel char, old oak, leather cocoa.
Tasting Summary
Jack Daniel’s 12 Year review – batch 02…holy hell I like this! Both the nose and the palate are very complex yet perfectly balanced. Such a nice combination of old-age-whiskey dark flavors balanced with a symphony of sweetness.
My Rating
The higher the score the better the whiskey is in my opinion. For reference, my best rated bottle so far is the George T. Stagg 2022 (138.7p) with a score of 9.7.
| Score Type | Score | Examples |
| Likability Score | 8.9 | 1.0 – 10.0 |
| Availability Score | 2 | 1-Rare, 2-Hard to Find, 3-A Little Hunting, 4-Easy to Find |
My Tasting Notes
A blank version of this tasting notes wheel is available in both a color and a black & white version in the member’s area.
Notes and History
In 1866 Jasper Newton Daniel, better known as Jack, opened the Jack Daniel Distillery next to the mineral-rich waters of Cave Spring Hollow. It was the very first officially registered distillery in the US. Jack hired a slave named Nathan “Nearest” Green to be the head distiller.
In 1904 Jack Daniel’s Old No. 7 takes a gold medal at the World’s Fair in St. Louis, Missouri. In 1919 Prohibition becomes law and the distillery is shuttered until Prohibition is repealed in 1933. It is several years before production is resumed.
In 1944 the distillery is shut down for the second time since its inception, this time due resources needing to be redirected to help the WWII war effort. Gentleman Jack is introduced to the market in 1988 followed by the Single Barrel Select brand in 1997. Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Honey makes its day-view in 2011, and in 2014 they open a new cooperage in Lawrence County, Alabama to keep up with the high demand for their products.
In 2015 Single Barrel Rye and Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Fire are added to the product line. 2019 sees the arrival of Jack Apple, and in 2022 Jack Bonded is released.
For additional interesting info about Jack Daniel’s 12 year, checkout this post by Whiskey in My Wedding Ring.
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