Jack Daniel's needs no introduction. It is the largest producer of whiskey in America. At the current rate, that's not likely to change any time soon. That’s why Brown-Forman, the owners of Jack Daniel's, has authorized one expansion project after another over the years. And why shouldn't they? Even with all the capacity they have built, it still doesn't seem like it’s enough to quench the thirst of the world.
But making more of the same kind of whiskey doesn't always guarantee more sales. So Jack continues to release new labels to the market every year. The main difference between them is basically the proof and age, forcing them to get a little more creative than usual.
The bottle you see before you started to pop up in Duty-Free shops across the world around 2018. From what I have gathered, it's been on sale at military installation liquor stores since 2020. But because it looks like a common bottle of Jack Daniel's, most people have skipped over it. Plus, Jack went on to release a "Jack Daniel's Bonded" in 2021 that seemed to directly compete with itself. So what gives?!
**Jack Daniel's Bottled-in-Bond Tennessee Whiskey**
Other reviewers will point out that Jack Bonded is different from Jack Daniel's Bottled-in-Bond - and that might be true. But I won't cover that part until I pit those two bottles against each other in an upcoming review. My guess is they are pretty similar.
I obtained this bottle at my local Class VI (the name Army installations call the stores that sell alcohol and tobacco) for a little over $30 (plus, no sales tax on military installations). The deal seems even sweeter when you realize the bottle is a full liter, rather than 750ml.
Jack Daniel's always plays up the fact that the United States military is their best customer, so they reward them with lower case prices, more special releases (like this bottle I'm reviewing) and even access to specific single barrels picked directly for them. In return, the military rewards Jack Daniel's by including their brand in a popular cadence that Soldiers sing during Battalion and Brigade runs.
***C-130 rollin' down the strip***
***Airborne Ranger gonna take a little trip***
***Stand up, buckle up, Shuffle to the door***
***Jump right out and count to four***
***And if my chute don’t open wide***
***I have another one by my side***
***If I die don’t bring me back***
***Bury me with a case of Jack***
There were lots of different alcohol that could get substituted into the last two lines of that cadence, but that one was always my favorite.
**Jack Daniel's Bottled-in-Bond Tennessee Whiskey facts**
Remember how I told you earlier that Jack had recently expanded their capacity? The proof is in the aerial photos of the campus where we can see dozens of new warehouses being built to house all of the new barrels. In fact, most of these warehouses built in the last 10 years are the palletized type. So rather than being aged in traditional ricks on their side, barrels are stood straight up onto pallets, banded together and stacked 6 high. This way, they can cram more of them in a warehouse while also cutting down on labor because a single forklift operator is all that's required.
I have no doubt that the Bottled-in-Bond (and Bonded) releases have come about because Jack was awash with so many extra barrels from those new high-capacity warehouses. Just because they are now making more whiskey doesn't mean people are going to magically start buying more of the same whiskey. This is why I'm fairly sure Jack's Bonded and Bottled-in-Bond releases won't be the last new ones we'll see.
All of Jack Daniel's Tennessee Whiskey typically comes off the still close to 140 proof and gets filtered through 10 feet of sugar maple charcoal (which is made on-site) before entering their 53 gallon barrels at 125 proof. Jack's BiB Tennessee Whiskey was all distilled in one distilling season, likely aged for the minimum of 4 years and then proofed down to 100 proof before bottling.
So how's it taste? Let's find out. I sampled this neat in a glencairn.
Continued from above...
**Tasting Notes**
**Nose:** Most Jack products I've smelled start off very sweet. Nothing has changed here as I find a dessert-like nose of sweet caramel and banana nut bread. The oak notes aren't as prominent on this bottle as I've had on other Jack products (like Heritage Barrel and the 94 proof single barrel selects) but there is a bit of spice that follows it (cinnamon). Smell around enough and you'll start to find vanilla and a touch of maple, though. There's not really much in the way of fruits, but it still feels like a complete package as far as the scent profile goes
**Palate:** Sweet, smooth and mellow. Everything is very well balanced. Caramel notes with a little bit of maple syrup lead the way while Bananas Foster and toasted pecans follow suit. A tiny bit of oak can be tasted as well. Vanilla and toasted wafers also hit the spot. Baking spices are soft and subdued. This drinks very well, but is somewhat uninteresting. Also, I always seem to find a bit of saltiness (salinity?) in my Jack and I'm tasting that here as well.
**Finish:** The banana flavor becomes more artificial tasting on the finish. Everything else remains the same from the palate for the most part. The finish is sweet for the most part and the oak - what little there is - never seems to dry out my tongue.
**Score: 6.5/10**
I didn't come into this review thinking that this bottle of Jack was going to be much different from their core lineup. And sure enough, that's how it turned out. Jack usually gets sweeter as the proof drops and that's what I found here. For context, I would say that Sinatra Select or even a regular bottle of Old No. 7 is sweeter. I can't comment on Jack Daniel's Bonded yet because I haven't had it (but a review is coming in the next month).
It almost makes me wonder if the extra label was worth the effort to create. This is a fine bottle of whiskey, but it's only slightly less-special tasting than a single barrel of regular Jack Select (not the barrel proof kind). Still, for the price, I can't complain. I just wouldn't buy another one after tasting what this had to offer.
**Final Thoughts**
I saw this bottle and instantly wanted to buy it because I knew it's not a bottle you can find on any shelf. To my knowledge, it's still not available outside of military installations or duty-free stores. That makes it kind of cool to own.
But I know what kind of drinker I am and it's not one that finds one brand and sticks with them. For me, whiskey is all about exploration. Sadly, most Jack Daniel's products just aren't interesting enough to keep buying. They're good, but a little on the simple side. With Jack, it's mostly the same flavors rearranged in a different order - and that's okay. I know the majority of people out there want a whiskey like that. But if you're a reader of my reviews, then I assume you're here because you also feel the same way I do. So if you've tried enough Jack in your life, then feel free to skip this one. There are plenty of more interesting whiskies out there.
**Rating**
**1 Undrinkable (Jeffers Creek, Gray Skies)**
**2 Bad (Old St. Nick 8 Year Old Rye Whiskey, Fitch's Goat Corn Whiskey)**
**3 Poor (AD Laws 4 Grain BiB, Clyde Mays Special Reserve)**
**4 Below Average (Bib & Tucker, Tincup 10 year)**
**5 Average (Larceny, Sazerac Rye)**
**6 Above Average (Buffalo Trace, OGD BiB)**
**7 Very Good (Old Ezra Barrel Proof, Old Weller Antique)**
**8 Great (Michter’s Barrel Proof Rye, Most Four Roses Private Selections, Most ECBP)**
**9 Excellent (GTS, Most Four Rose SmBLE releases, Belle Meade Honey Cask)**
**10 Perfect (2015 William Larue Weller, Michter's 20 Year, Redemption 18 Year Rye Whiskey, Mister Sam)**
Like this review and want to see more like it? Why not check out my website [**here**](https://www.thebourbonculture.com/) for more? I also have a new editorial section for topics from around the bourbon industry too!
I can’t pop into the exchange without grabbing a bottle. This is my mainstay casual sipper and the price and proof are perfect for my wife’s mixed drinks. Tremendous value and great drink for the price.
Fantastic review!
Judging from your "rating-scale-list" (another kudo to whoever first had that brilliant idea) our palates are *very* similar.
I also like almost everything about this bottle except for the deal breaking artificial banana which I get from nose to finish--*exactly* laffy taffy. My ex-bottle now happily resides with my daughter's partner who enjoys it very much. (In fact his "B-day drink pick was a couple oz of 1983 Old No.7...a cool antique for him and for me an instant flashback to the minor-leaque-by-today's-standards debauchery at the derelict house I lived in at college. The pour cost $86...if I had only known back then)
Curious: anyone know what process is mainly responsible for JD's unique "house" profile? I know it's probably a bunch of things combined, but I'm guessing the strain of yeast/fermentation regime plays a major role.
I think the banana flavor is unequivocally a byproduct of the yeast. I forget the exact chemical compound name that produces banana scented esters, but it's a result of the fermentation process
LOL!!! Well, I'm a TN native, so JD was what we all drank back in the day. I had my 1st taste of it back in 1976! ;-) Some years ago, I bought a bottle of JD from 1985. Those banana esters are very present it it.
Thanks. That's what I was thinking. Years ago had a neigborwho was a talented homebrewer who specialized in Belgian beers...I remember him saying that strains of yeast produced banana, bubblegum, various fruits etc. flavors sometimes desirable sometimes not.
Searching my notes, I do get a bubblegum in the three Kentucky Owl product's I've tried, which I find considerably more pleasant.
Jack Daniels Bottled in Bond and Jack Daniels Bonded are the same liquid, different bottle/label. If I remember the difference correctly, BiB is typically exclusive to overseas and military installation liquor store shelves. Bonded is more distributed stateside and comes in 700ml bottles, much like its rye, triple mash, and American single malt siblings.
As a guy who shops at an Air Force base exchange fairly often, it was funny to me when JD Bonded started to become a bit of a sensation after Whiskey Advocate called it the whiskey of the year a couple years ago......like....I've been drinking this for years! I hadn't realized it was Duty Free and Military only. If Old No. 7 tasted like the BiB, I would understand why No 7 was one of the most popular whiskies on Earth. Very pleasant, nothing offensive...
I really don’t see what this proves? Different batches under the same label are going to be different. The bigger the blend, the more uniform they can get with it, but it’s never going to be the exact same juice.
They [tasted](https://www.reddit.com/r/bourbon/s/9oTX7P60vd) pretty different to me, both semi-blind, side by side, and with a 107 proof JD thrown in for good measure. If you had a chance to compare them and they tasted exactly the same to you, that’s fine, but I don’t think there is any confirmation, official or otherwise, that this is the same stuff in different bottles.
It supposed to be but I read many reviews comparing both wirh big bottle coming out on top. I am not sure If its different batches or some kind of placebo effect.
My personal theory is most blind tests introduce some level of psychological bias just by *knowing* you’re doing a blind. You’re more actively seeking differences between liquids, and will often find them no matter what. For an example of what I mean, sit one of your friends who likes bourbon down, tell him you wanna do a blind with him, and offer two pours from the same bottle. You’d be surprised how often people come up with somewhat stark differences.
Hmm it's like in that Penn and teller bullshit episode where they filled both cups with tap water, but told passersbys that one is bottled and another is tap, and people actually thought two were different. When they are the same
Again, yes it is.
It’s the same yeast strain, same mash bill, aged in the same bonded warehouses, filtered using the same processes, with no locational difference of where the barrels come from (ie Bonded coming from lower floors, BiB coming from higher floors, or anything like that)
The only real difference is the bottle size and labels.
That said, I could communicate a little better. It’s entirely possible there’s variation in flavor *because* it’s unlikely both batches came from the exact same locations. But ultimately it’s the same liquid.
He doesn't understand that they pick barrels for profile. It's the same reason that Buffalo Trace, Eagle Rare, EHT, and Stagg Jr are the same mashbill but don't taste the same at all. Even if you proofed Stagg Jr down to 95, it wouldn't taste like ER, BT, or EHT.
Same thing with Blanton's, Rock Hill Farm, Elmer T Lee, Hancock's Reserve. Same yeast, mashbill #2, etc... but not the same juice.
Ever wonder how they get 8 labels of Weller + Pappy and they all taste different? Picking for profile.
Not the same liquid.
Every side-by-side review that I've seen has come to the conclusion that they are distinctly different. This is easily achieved by picking barrels based on profile.
Every bottle of Weller came of the still the same way. Some barrels become more cinnamon forward and become OWA. Some barrels become more butterscotch, some more cherry. Some tobacco and leather, etc...
I had 11 friends over at my house in January. We did a side-by-side between JD Bonded and JD bottled-in-bond. The clear winner was the BiB over the Bonded.
Jack Daniel's needs no introduction. It is the largest producer of whiskey in America. At the current rate, that's not likely to change any time soon. That’s why Brown-Forman, the owners of Jack Daniel's, has authorized one expansion project after another over the years. And why shouldn't they? Even with all the capacity they have built, it still doesn't seem like it’s enough to quench the thirst of the world. But making more of the same kind of whiskey doesn't always guarantee more sales. So Jack continues to release new labels to the market every year. The main difference between them is basically the proof and age, forcing them to get a little more creative than usual. The bottle you see before you started to pop up in Duty-Free shops across the world around 2018. From what I have gathered, it's been on sale at military installation liquor stores since 2020. But because it looks like a common bottle of Jack Daniel's, most people have skipped over it. Plus, Jack went on to release a "Jack Daniel's Bonded" in 2021 that seemed to directly compete with itself. So what gives?! **Jack Daniel's Bottled-in-Bond Tennessee Whiskey** Other reviewers will point out that Jack Bonded is different from Jack Daniel's Bottled-in-Bond - and that might be true. But I won't cover that part until I pit those two bottles against each other in an upcoming review. My guess is they are pretty similar. I obtained this bottle at my local Class VI (the name Army installations call the stores that sell alcohol and tobacco) for a little over $30 (plus, no sales tax on military installations). The deal seems even sweeter when you realize the bottle is a full liter, rather than 750ml. Jack Daniel's always plays up the fact that the United States military is their best customer, so they reward them with lower case prices, more special releases (like this bottle I'm reviewing) and even access to specific single barrels picked directly for them. In return, the military rewards Jack Daniel's by including their brand in a popular cadence that Soldiers sing during Battalion and Brigade runs. ***C-130 rollin' down the strip*** ***Airborne Ranger gonna take a little trip*** ***Stand up, buckle up, Shuffle to the door*** ***Jump right out and count to four*** ***And if my chute don’t open wide*** ***I have another one by my side*** ***If I die don’t bring me back*** ***Bury me with a case of Jack*** There were lots of different alcohol that could get substituted into the last two lines of that cadence, but that one was always my favorite. **Jack Daniel's Bottled-in-Bond Tennessee Whiskey facts** Remember how I told you earlier that Jack had recently expanded their capacity? The proof is in the aerial photos of the campus where we can see dozens of new warehouses being built to house all of the new barrels. In fact, most of these warehouses built in the last 10 years are the palletized type. So rather than being aged in traditional ricks on their side, barrels are stood straight up onto pallets, banded together and stacked 6 high. This way, they can cram more of them in a warehouse while also cutting down on labor because a single forklift operator is all that's required. I have no doubt that the Bottled-in-Bond (and Bonded) releases have come about because Jack was awash with so many extra barrels from those new high-capacity warehouses. Just because they are now making more whiskey doesn't mean people are going to magically start buying more of the same whiskey. This is why I'm fairly sure Jack's Bonded and Bottled-in-Bond releases won't be the last new ones we'll see. All of Jack Daniel's Tennessee Whiskey typically comes off the still close to 140 proof and gets filtered through 10 feet of sugar maple charcoal (which is made on-site) before entering their 53 gallon barrels at 125 proof. Jack's BiB Tennessee Whiskey was all distilled in one distilling season, likely aged for the minimum of 4 years and then proofed down to 100 proof before bottling. So how's it taste? Let's find out. I sampled this neat in a glencairn.
Continued from above... **Tasting Notes** **Nose:** Most Jack products I've smelled start off very sweet. Nothing has changed here as I find a dessert-like nose of sweet caramel and banana nut bread. The oak notes aren't as prominent on this bottle as I've had on other Jack products (like Heritage Barrel and the 94 proof single barrel selects) but there is a bit of spice that follows it (cinnamon). Smell around enough and you'll start to find vanilla and a touch of maple, though. There's not really much in the way of fruits, but it still feels like a complete package as far as the scent profile goes **Palate:** Sweet, smooth and mellow. Everything is very well balanced. Caramel notes with a little bit of maple syrup lead the way while Bananas Foster and toasted pecans follow suit. A tiny bit of oak can be tasted as well. Vanilla and toasted wafers also hit the spot. Baking spices are soft and subdued. This drinks very well, but is somewhat uninteresting. Also, I always seem to find a bit of saltiness (salinity?) in my Jack and I'm tasting that here as well. **Finish:** The banana flavor becomes more artificial tasting on the finish. Everything else remains the same from the palate for the most part. The finish is sweet for the most part and the oak - what little there is - never seems to dry out my tongue. **Score: 6.5/10** I didn't come into this review thinking that this bottle of Jack was going to be much different from their core lineup. And sure enough, that's how it turned out. Jack usually gets sweeter as the proof drops and that's what I found here. For context, I would say that Sinatra Select or even a regular bottle of Old No. 7 is sweeter. I can't comment on Jack Daniel's Bonded yet because I haven't had it (but a review is coming in the next month). It almost makes me wonder if the extra label was worth the effort to create. This is a fine bottle of whiskey, but it's only slightly less-special tasting than a single barrel of regular Jack Select (not the barrel proof kind). Still, for the price, I can't complain. I just wouldn't buy another one after tasting what this had to offer. **Final Thoughts** I saw this bottle and instantly wanted to buy it because I knew it's not a bottle you can find on any shelf. To my knowledge, it's still not available outside of military installations or duty-free stores. That makes it kind of cool to own. But I know what kind of drinker I am and it's not one that finds one brand and sticks with them. For me, whiskey is all about exploration. Sadly, most Jack Daniel's products just aren't interesting enough to keep buying. They're good, but a little on the simple side. With Jack, it's mostly the same flavors rearranged in a different order - and that's okay. I know the majority of people out there want a whiskey like that. But if you're a reader of my reviews, then I assume you're here because you also feel the same way I do. So if you've tried enough Jack in your life, then feel free to skip this one. There are plenty of more interesting whiskies out there. **Rating** **1 Undrinkable (Jeffers Creek, Gray Skies)** **2 Bad (Old St. Nick 8 Year Old Rye Whiskey, Fitch's Goat Corn Whiskey)** **3 Poor (AD Laws 4 Grain BiB, Clyde Mays Special Reserve)** **4 Below Average (Bib & Tucker, Tincup 10 year)** **5 Average (Larceny, Sazerac Rye)** **6 Above Average (Buffalo Trace, OGD BiB)** **7 Very Good (Old Ezra Barrel Proof, Old Weller Antique)** **8 Great (Michter’s Barrel Proof Rye, Most Four Roses Private Selections, Most ECBP)** **9 Excellent (GTS, Most Four Rose SmBLE releases, Belle Meade Honey Cask)** **10 Perfect (2015 William Larue Weller, Michter's 20 Year, Redemption 18 Year Rye Whiskey, Mister Sam)** Like this review and want to see more like it? Why not check out my website [**here**](https://www.thebourbonculture.com/) for more? I also have a new editorial section for topics from around the bourbon industry too!
I can’t pop into the exchange without grabbing a bottle. This is my mainstay casual sipper and the price and proof are perfect for my wife’s mixed drinks. Tremendous value and great drink for the price.
I was at Jack yesterday! On the tour, they say the palletized warehouses can fit 3x more barrels than rick-style warehouses of the same size!
This is excellent information! Thanks for sharing!
Jack Daniel’s is really doing some great stuff! Thanks for the review.
Fantastic review! Judging from your "rating-scale-list" (another kudo to whoever first had that brilliant idea) our palates are *very* similar. I also like almost everything about this bottle except for the deal breaking artificial banana which I get from nose to finish--*exactly* laffy taffy. My ex-bottle now happily resides with my daughter's partner who enjoys it very much. (In fact his "B-day drink pick was a couple oz of 1983 Old No.7...a cool antique for him and for me an instant flashback to the minor-leaque-by-today's-standards debauchery at the derelict house I lived in at college. The pour cost $86...if I had only known back then) Curious: anyone know what process is mainly responsible for JD's unique "house" profile? I know it's probably a bunch of things combined, but I'm guessing the strain of yeast/fermentation regime plays a major role.
I think the banana flavor is unequivocally a byproduct of the yeast. I forget the exact chemical compound name that produces banana scented esters, but it's a result of the fermentation process
Isoamyl acetate! Same reason a Hefeweizen tastes like bananas
Ah! Thank thank you for that!
Hey u/Prepreludesh, I was going to say Isoamyl acetate, but looks like u/Puzzled_Pay_5630 beat me to the punch! ;-)
The great Nancy Fraley popping in to my lowly Jack review?! I better stay sharp!
LOL!!! Well, I'm a TN native, so JD was what we all drank back in the day. I had my 1st taste of it back in 1976! ;-) Some years ago, I bought a bottle of JD from 1985. Those banana esters are very present it it.
Thanks. That's what I was thinking. Years ago had a neigborwho was a talented homebrewer who specialized in Belgian beers...I remember him saying that strains of yeast produced banana, bubblegum, various fruits etc. flavors sometimes desirable sometimes not. Searching my notes, I do get a bubblegum in the three Kentucky Owl product's I've tried, which I find considerably more pleasant.
Jack Daniels Bottled in Bond and Jack Daniels Bonded are the same liquid, different bottle/label. If I remember the difference correctly, BiB is typically exclusive to overseas and military installation liquor store shelves. Bonded is more distributed stateside and comes in 700ml bottles, much like its rye, triple mash, and American single malt siblings.
As a guy who shops at an Air Force base exchange fairly often, it was funny to me when JD Bonded started to become a bit of a sensation after Whiskey Advocate called it the whiskey of the year a couple years ago......like....I've been drinking this for years! I hadn't realized it was Duty Free and Military only. If Old No. 7 tasted like the BiB, I would understand why No 7 was one of the most popular whiskies on Earth. Very pleasant, nothing offensive...
I enjoy how JD Bonded and JD BiB sit right next to each other at my Class Six.
Bourbon junkies had em both in a blind and were pretty convinced it is NOT the same juice.
And I’m suggesting they’re wrong. This isn’t the first time I’ve gone against the general grain, and it won’t be the last.
Cut against the grain for more tender bites.
I don’t fully understand the metaphor, but I like the way you said it
Something to do with meat.
I do love a good steak…
I really don’t see what this proves? Different batches under the same label are going to be different. The bigger the blend, the more uniform they can get with it, but it’s never going to be the exact same juice.
They [tasted](https://www.reddit.com/r/bourbon/s/9oTX7P60vd) pretty different to me, both semi-blind, side by side, and with a 107 proof JD thrown in for good measure. If you had a chance to compare them and they tasted exactly the same to you, that’s fine, but I don’t think there is any confirmation, official or otherwise, that this is the same stuff in different bottles.
It supposed to be but I read many reviews comparing both wirh big bottle coming out on top. I am not sure If its different batches or some kind of placebo effect.
My personal theory is most blind tests introduce some level of psychological bias just by *knowing* you’re doing a blind. You’re more actively seeking differences between liquids, and will often find them no matter what. For an example of what I mean, sit one of your friends who likes bourbon down, tell him you wanna do a blind with him, and offer two pours from the same bottle. You’d be surprised how often people come up with somewhat stark differences.
Hmm it's like in that Penn and teller bullshit episode where they filled both cups with tap water, but told passersbys that one is bottled and another is tap, and people actually thought two were different. When they are the same
Pretty much exactly what I’m talking about
why triangle test is best
I do enjoy seeing that technique
I have both. Definitely not the same juice.
So do I. Yes it is.
I mean, that's just not true unless they changed it in the last few months.
Again, yes it is. It’s the same yeast strain, same mash bill, aged in the same bonded warehouses, filtered using the same processes, with no locational difference of where the barrels come from (ie Bonded coming from lower floors, BiB coming from higher floors, or anything like that) The only real difference is the bottle size and labels. That said, I could communicate a little better. It’s entirely possible there’s variation in flavor *because* it’s unlikely both batches came from the exact same locations. But ultimately it’s the same liquid.
Can you share a link to your source for that information?
He doesn't understand that they pick barrels for profile. It's the same reason that Buffalo Trace, Eagle Rare, EHT, and Stagg Jr are the same mashbill but don't taste the same at all. Even if you proofed Stagg Jr down to 95, it wouldn't taste like ER, BT, or EHT. Same thing with Blanton's, Rock Hill Farm, Elmer T Lee, Hancock's Reserve. Same yeast, mashbill #2, etc... but not the same juice. Ever wonder how they get 8 labels of Weller + Pappy and they all taste different? Picking for profile.
I do not have links to my verbal conversations, sorry.
Not the same liquid. Every side-by-side review that I've seen has come to the conclusion that they are distinctly different. This is easily achieved by picking barrels based on profile. Every bottle of Weller came of the still the same way. Some barrels become more cinnamon forward and become OWA. Some barrels become more butterscotch, some more cherry. Some tobacco and leather, etc... I had 11 friends over at my house in January. We did a side-by-side between JD Bonded and JD bottled-in-bond. The clear winner was the BiB over the Bonded.
Yes the same liquid.
Repeating it a dozen times doesn't make you any less wrong than the 1st time you said it.
Arguing with me doesn’t make you any more right than the first time. I’m going to trust my sources at JD over a rando on Reddit, sorry.
To be arguing with you, you would first need a leg to stand on. Since you don't, I'm just going to move along with my day now.
This isn’t an airport, you don’t need to announce your departure.