At its distillery, Jack Daniel’s produces a lot of whiskey. It’s the world’s best-selling whiskey shingle, a huge boost for the Tennessee whiskey industry. Mainstream whiskey, on the other hand, isn’t always good whiskey. If you think of Jack’s Old No. 7 as more than a mixer, you’re in for a bad hangover. On the other hand, the brand offers a variety of expressions that are well worth sampling.
One of Jack’s recent releases that I’ve grown to appreciate is the Jack Daniel’s Bottled-in-Bond Traveler’s Exclusive. I’m a great admirer of Jack Daniel’s bonded single barrel, so it’s no surprise that I’d enjoy this. I was extremely fascinated when I first spotted it on the shelf. With a fantastic gold and black graphic design, the box stood out, and the bottle itself was a full liter, giving me more bang for my buck.
As a great fan of bottled-in-bond, I knew I had to put this to the test and report back. My complete evaluation is below, but suffice it to say that this is an intriguing whiskey. One that’s steadily climbing my list of favorite day-to-day beverages.
It will be a bit of a hunt if you want to test it for yourself. We did find a bottle in the United States, but it’s a bit costly. Prior to this year, the statement solely applied to duty-free purchases. Due to the decline in duty-free shops over the last year and a half, bottles are now making their way into non-travel markets. If you’re traveling and have access to a duty-free shop, you should be able to get it for a lot less money than you would in a store or online.
Let’s get started!
Jack Daniel’s Bottled-In-Bond Travelers’ Exclusive
ABV: 50%
Average Price: $99 ($38 MSRP)
The Whiskey:
This is a traditional Jack Daniel’s mash, with 80 percent maize, 12 percent barley, and only 8% rye. The barrels are kept in a bonded facility for at least four years before being vatted and proofed down to 100 proof.
Tasting Notes:
On the nose, there’s a suggestion of wet oak, mild eggnog spice, vanilla, soft leather, and orange candy, with a hint of wet oak, light eggnog spice, vanilla, soft leather, and orange candy. The flavor is delicious, with banana pancakes and maple syrup blended with apple cider, as well as drier oak and toffee candies and a hint of almond crunch. The end is driven by soft toffee, which leads to a longish finish with dry reeds and the buttery end of the Hostess Cherry Pie.
The Bottle:
This is a terrific bar cart addition because of the huge bottle (one liter), matte box, gold text over black, and classic look. It’s readily recognizable as a Jack bottle, but it’s also unmistakably unique.
Bottom Line:
This appeals to me much. On weekends, it’s become a go-to beverage. It’s fruity and, in a good manner, “Jack Daniel’s.” It’s a touch more daring than the ordinary Jack, but it’s nowhere near as good as their single barrel program. Nonetheless, the Hostess Cherry Pie note goes a long way toward making me seek for this bottle more frequently than others. It’s a real delight.
Rating:
89/100 — This is really nice and a very easy drinking whiskey all around. It’s not anything mind-blowing but it’s also not trying to be.
