Table Of Contents

The Details

Rating 94
Style
American Whiskey
Whiskey
Produced In Tennessee
United States
ABV 53.5%
Availability Limited
Price $94.99 
Reviewed By
Review Updated 2024-03-14

Jack Daniel's 12 Year Old Tennessee Whiskey (Batch 2) Review

Many drinkers don’t yet associate Jack Daniel’s Distillery with highly aged whiskeys. But that’s almost certain to change as the brand pushes its distillate’s aging boundaries. Jack is now on the third release of its 10-year Tennessee whiskey. Even its experimental whiskeys are leaning in on additional years in the barrel (with very tasty results).

The distillery’s current oldest expression is a 12-year-old Tennessee whiskey. Batch number 2 was released in early 2024 and is made from Jack’s traditional mash bill of 80 percent corn, 12 percent malted barley, and 8 percent rye. After batching, the release was bottled at 107 proof, a full 10 proof points higher than its 10-year sibling.

Let’s see how Batch 2 of Jack Daniel's 12 Year Old Tennessee Whiskey tastes, shall we?

Jack Daniel's 12 Year Old Tennessee Whiskey (Batch 3) review.

Jack Daniel's 12 Year Old Tennessee Whiskey: Stats and Availability

Batch 2 is a limited, nationwide release, with a suggested retail price of around $95. Initial releases of Jack Daniel’s age-stated products created enough fanfare to push prices past MSRP in many locations. I’ve (shockingly) seen Batch 1 bottles for as high as $500 on retail shelves in NYC and other metropolitan areas. That said, few if any folks were buying at that price. If Batch 1 was any indication, anything within $15 of retail on these bottles is probably a solid “buy” for me, though personal preferences will vary.

Jack Daniel's 12 Year Old Tennessee Whiskey Review

As with all of VinePair’s whiskey reviews, this was tasted in a Glencairn glass and rested for at least five minutes.

Nose

A powerful (but not overpowering) array of oak emanates early out of the glass; this is immediately a darker, richer beast than Jack Daniel’s most recent 10-year expression. Tobacco and leather follow just behind, as tannic elements evolve gradually from one sniff to the next. Light wood smoke then makes an appearance. The whiskey’s age isn’t pulling any punches here, at least not at first!

A return to the glass brings cooked fruit, and lots of it: dark cherry, pear, peach, and mixed berries. A small hint of herbaceousness follows — particularly mint and light dill. Coupled with the aforementioned mild smoke, it reminds me of Dutch oven cobbler cooked over campfire embers. Nosing even deeper brings light bananas foster, though far less pronounced than on Batch 3 of the 10-year version. That component shifts to walnut and almond extract and caramel for a bit of praline sweetness to bookend the nose.

Taste

The first sip is almost exactly equal parts sweet, buttery, and savory, lingering on the front of the palate like popcorn-flavored salt water taffy. Oak moves in quickly and buoys a dark caramel and molasses sweetness, shifting the notes away from savory territory.

Fruit comes in later, along with rye spice. There’s a big section of the sipping experience that’s predominantly baked apples with caramel, dusted with either cinnamon or nutmeg depending on which part of the tongue the liquid hits.

The sweet components get darker as they build in conjunction with the wood influence, which toes the line between boisterous and drying by the time it reaches the midpalate. Again, this Tennessee whiskey’s age is on full display, bringing richness and complexity that showcases what the brand is already accomplishing with age-stated releases.

The mouth feel is creamy even for 107 proof and builds with each sip. Compared to the 10 Year — or really any younger Jack Daniel’s Distillery expression — that allows for more time to suss out individual notes and flavors.

Finish

Let’s be clear: This isn’t a short finish. But Jack Daniel’s 12 Year has enough going on in the mouth to build anticipation for a truly superlative final act, which it never quite hits. If the nose and palate act every bit their age and then some, the finish doesn’t exceed its age statement. However, judging the spirit on its own merits (and not just wishful thinking), the finish leans into spice. In addition, a light cooling sensation — borderline menthol — helps keep the tannins at bay.

Jack Daniel's 12 Year Old Tennessee Whiskey Rating

94/100

Recap

The first batch of Jack Daniel’s 12 Year Old Tennessee Whiskey was released to nearly universal applause. Fans will be relieved to learn Batch 2 is also delicious whiskey, accessible to nearly every spirit drinker and satisfying to even the pickiest among us. It’s a bottling that helps solidify a position among hotly anticipated yearly releases.

Perhaps even more intriguing is the promise of even older Jack Daniel’s Tennessee whiskey, which a brand representative told me is certainly coming down the pipeline. I’ll be waiting, glass in hand.

Related Reads

· Brand Profile: Jack Daniel's

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94
POINTS
Jack Daniel's 12 Year Old Tennessee Whiskey (Batch 2)
Many drinkers don’t yet associate Jack Daniel’s Distillery with highly aged whiskeys. But that’s almost certain to change as the brand pushes its distillate’s aging boundaries. Jack is now on the third release of its 10-year Tennessee whiskey. Even its experimental whiskeys are leaning in on additional years in the barrel (with very tasty results). The distillery’s current oldest expression is a 12-year-old Tennessee whiskey. Batch number 2 was released in early 2024 and is made from Jack’s traditional mash bill of 80 percent corn, 12 percent malted barley, and 8 percent rye. After batching, the release was bottled at 107 proof, a full 10 proof points higher than its 10-year sibling. Let’s see how Batch 2 of Jack Daniel's 12 Year Old Tennessee Whiskey tastes, shall we? Jack Daniel's 12 Year Old Tennessee Whiskey (Batch 3) review.

Jack Daniel's 12 Year Old Tennessee Whiskey: Stats and Availability

Batch 2 is a limited, nationwide release, with a suggested retail price of around $95. Initial releases of Jack Daniel’s age-stated products created enough fanfare to push prices past MSRP in many locations. I’ve (shockingly) seen Batch 1 bottles for as high as $500 on retail shelves in NYC and other metropolitan areas. That said, few if any folks were buying at that price. If Batch 1 was any indication, anything within $15 of retail on these bottles is probably a solid “buy” for me, though personal preferences will vary.

Jack Daniel's 12 Year Old Tennessee Whiskey Review

As with all of VinePair’s whiskey reviews, this was tasted in a Glencairn glass and rested for at least five minutes.

Nose

A powerful (but not overpowering) array of oak emanates early out of the glass; this is immediately a darker, richer beast than Jack Daniel’s most recent 10-year expression. Tobacco and leather follow just behind, as tannic elements evolve gradually from one sniff to the next. Light wood smoke then makes an appearance. The whiskey’s age isn’t pulling any punches here, at least not at first! A return to the glass brings cooked fruit, and lots of it: dark cherry, pear, peach, and mixed berries. A small hint of herbaceousness follows — particularly mint and light dill. Coupled with the aforementioned mild smoke, it reminds me of Dutch oven cobbler cooked over campfire embers. Nosing even deeper brings light bananas foster, though far less pronounced than on Batch 3 of the 10-year version. That component shifts to walnut and almond extract and caramel for a bit of praline sweetness to bookend the nose.

Taste

The first sip is almost exactly equal parts sweet, buttery, and savory, lingering on the front of the palate like popcorn-flavored salt water taffy. Oak moves in quickly and buoys a dark caramel and molasses sweetness, shifting the notes away from savory territory. Fruit comes in later, along with rye spice. There’s a big section of the sipping experience that’s predominantly baked apples with caramel, dusted with either cinnamon or nutmeg depending on which part of the tongue the liquid hits. The sweet components get darker as they build in conjunction with the wood influence, which toes the line between boisterous and drying by the time it reaches the midpalate. Again, this Tennessee whiskey’s age is on full display, bringing richness and complexity that showcases what the brand is already accomplishing with age-stated releases. The mouth feel is creamy even for 107 proof and builds with each sip. Compared to the 10 Year — or really any younger Jack Daniel’s Distillery expression — that allows for more time to suss out individual notes and flavors.

Finish

Let’s be clear: This isn’t a short finish. But Jack Daniel’s 12 Year has enough going on in the mouth to build anticipation for a truly superlative final act, which it never quite hits. If the nose and palate act every bit their age and then some, the finish doesn’t exceed its age statement. However, judging the spirit on its own merits (and not just wishful thinking), the finish leans into spice. In addition, a light cooling sensation — borderline menthol — helps keep the tannins at bay.

Jack Daniel's 12 Year Old Tennessee Whiskey Rating

94/100

Recap

The first batch of Jack Daniel’s 12 Year Old Tennessee Whiskey was released to nearly universal applause. Fans will be relieved to learn Batch 2 is also delicious whiskey, accessible to nearly every spirit drinker and satisfying to even the pickiest among us. It’s a bottling that helps solidify a position among hotly anticipated yearly releases. Perhaps even more intriguing is the promise of even older Jack Daniel’s Tennessee whiskey, which a brand representative told me is certainly coming down the pipeline. I’ll be waiting, glass in hand.

Reviewed On: 03-15-2024
94
POINTS
Jack Daniel's 12 Year Old Tennessee Whiskey (Batch 2)
Many drinkers don’t yet associate Jack Daniel’s Distillery with highly aged whiskeys. But that’s almost certain to change as the brand pushes its distillate’s aging boundaries. Jack is now on the third release of its 10-year Tennessee whiskey. Even its experimental whiskeys are leaning in on additional years in the barrel (with very tasty results). The distillery’s current oldest expression is a 12-year-old Tennessee whiskey. Batch number 2 was released in early 2024 and is made from Jack’s traditional mash bill of 80 percent corn, 12 percent malted barley, and 8 percent rye. After batching, the release was bottled at 107 proof, a full 10 proof points higher than its 10-year sibling. Let’s see how Batch 2 of Jack Daniel's 12 Year Old Tennessee Whiskey tastes, shall we? Jack Daniel's 12 Year Old Tennessee Whiskey (Batch 3) review.

Jack Daniel's 12 Year Old Tennessee Whiskey: Stats and Availability

Batch 2 is a limited, nationwide release, with a suggested retail price of around $95. Initial releases of Jack Daniel’s age-stated products created enough fanfare to push prices past MSRP in many locations. I’ve (shockingly) seen Batch 1 bottles for as high as $500 on retail shelves in NYC and other metropolitan areas. That said, few if any folks were buying at that price. If Batch 1 was any indication, anything within $15 of retail on these bottles is probably a solid “buy” for me, though personal preferences will vary.

Jack Daniel's 12 Year Old Tennessee Whiskey Review

As with all of VinePair’s whiskey reviews, this was tasted in a Glencairn glass and rested for at least five minutes.

Nose

A powerful (but not overpowering) array of oak emanates early out of the glass; this is immediately a darker, richer beast than Jack Daniel’s most recent 10-year expression. Tobacco and leather follow just behind, as tannic elements evolve gradually from one sniff to the next. Light wood smoke then makes an appearance. The whiskey’s age isn’t pulling any punches here, at least not at first! A return to the glass brings cooked fruit, and lots of it: dark cherry, pear, peach, and mixed berries. A small hint of herbaceousness follows — particularly mint and light dill. Coupled with the aforementioned mild smoke, it reminds me of Dutch oven cobbler cooked over campfire embers. Nosing even deeper brings light bananas foster, though far less pronounced than on Batch 3 of the 10-year version. That component shifts to walnut and almond extract and caramel for a bit of praline sweetness to bookend the nose.

Taste

The first sip is almost exactly equal parts sweet, buttery, and savory, lingering on the front of the palate like popcorn-flavored salt water taffy. Oak moves in quickly and buoys a dark caramel and molasses sweetness, shifting the notes away from savory territory. Fruit comes in later, along with rye spice. There’s a big section of the sipping experience that’s predominantly baked apples with caramel, dusted with either cinnamon or nutmeg depending on which part of the tongue the liquid hits. The sweet components get darker as they build in conjunction with the wood influence, which toes the line between boisterous and drying by the time it reaches the midpalate. Again, this Tennessee whiskey’s age is on full display, bringing richness and complexity that showcases what the brand is already accomplishing with age-stated releases. The mouth feel is creamy even for 107 proof and builds with each sip. Compared to the 10 Year — or really any younger Jack Daniel’s Distillery expression — that allows for more time to suss out individual notes and flavors.

Finish

Let’s be clear: This isn’t a short finish. But Jack Daniel’s 12 Year has enough going on in the mouth to build anticipation for a truly superlative final act, which it never quite hits. If the nose and palate act every bit their age and then some, the finish doesn’t exceed its age statement. However, judging the spirit on its own merits (and not just wishful thinking), the finish leans into spice. In addition, a light cooling sensation — borderline menthol — helps keep the tannins at bay.

Jack Daniel's 12 Year Old Tennessee Whiskey Rating

94/100

Recap

The first batch of Jack Daniel’s 12 Year Old Tennessee Whiskey was released to nearly universal applause. Fans will be relieved to learn Batch 2 is also delicious whiskey, accessible to nearly every spirit drinker and satisfying to even the pickiest among us. It’s a bottling that helps solidify a position among hotly anticipated yearly releases. Perhaps even more intriguing is the promise of even older Jack Daniel’s Tennessee whiskey, which a brand representative told me is certainly coming down the pipeline. I’ll be waiting, glass in hand.

Reviewed On: 03-15-2024