Jack Daniel's Bonded is a Tennessee Whiskey from Lynchburg, Tennessee, bottled in the Bottled-in-Bond category at 50% ABV. In the spring of 2022, Jack Daniel's introduced this expression as a permanent addition to its core range, and the label later took first place in Whisky Advocate's 2022 "Most Exciting Whiskies" ranking.
The whiskey is made from the classic Old No. 7 recipe, produced in a single distilling season, matured for at least four years in federally certified warehouses and offered at 100 proof. The mash bill is the same as in the standard Old No. 7, however, according to the producer, the barrels used for the Bonded version are hand-selected for deeper colour, aroma and flavour, resulting in a darker, richer and more oak-driven character. The distillate comes off the still at 140 proof and is filtered through a three-metre layer of sugar maple charcoal held in large wooden vats. This stage, known as the Lincoln County Process, takes six days, after which the spirit goes into new charred oak barrels for at least four years.
The profile is built around the brand's signature sweetness. Whisky Advocate's tasters noted delicate aromas of dried herbs, cherry, banana and well-integrated oak on the nose, moving on the palate into pronounced notes of honey-roasted peanuts, brown sugar, dark chocolate and melted caramel, with a touch of peppery spice. On the palate, intense maple sugar meets caramel, toasted marshmallow and charred oak, while the finish brings together caramel, graham crackers and toasted oak with a steady, spicy warmth; the finish is medium to long.
The Bonded version is bottled in 700 ml, departing from the American 750 ml standard in favour of the international 70 cl format. The spirit works well neat, on the rocks, and as a base for cocktails of the Old Fashioned or Boulevardier class.