Jack Daniel's 14 Year Tennessee Whiskey Batch 2 Review: Repeated Greatness or Something New?
- Nick Anderson
- 2 hours ago
- 4 min read
“Life is an echo. What you send out comes back. What you sow you reap. What you give you get. What you see in others exists in you.”
–Zig Ziglar, See You at the Top
Few distilleries can consistently put out double-digit age statements. Since September 2021, with the introduction of batch 1 of the 10 year expression, Jack Daniel Distillery has been doing just that. Now accompanied by a revered 12 year and 14 year expression, the ultra-aged Tennessee whiskey producer from little old Lynchburg is tasked with no small feat: maintaining consistent high quality across their premium lineup of whiskeys.
The whiskey enthusiast is a fickle beast. We seek out nuance, newness, complexity, and quality all at the same time. For a distillery known for mind-bending, world-scale quantities of the global market's best-selling Old Number 7, the age-stated lineup feels innovative, exciting, and collectible. It checks all the boxes for the whiskey enthusiast. One misstep along the way, though, and trust can quickly be lost. A single bad batch could swear off the long-time whiskey drinker from one of their proof points—or even the entire distillery—for good.
While the 10 and 12 year expressions get bottled at a static, fixed proof point of 97 proof and 107 proof, respectively, the 14 year release is bottled at full barrel proof, meaning no water is added between what comes out of the barrel and what goes into the bottle. This decision has resulted in a stark contrast between the two batches released thus far. Batch 1 rang in at a whopping 126.3 proof, while batch 2, likely aged on lower floors in cooler rickhouses to slow the sometimes harsh effects of aging whiskeys too long, is a mellow 117.6 proof by comparison. Just like all Jack Daniel's whiskey, the fresh distillate is mellowed drop by drop through 10 feet of sugar maple charcoal, then aged in new American white oak barrels.
As with all my reviews, this was tasted neat on three separate occasions with a sober palate before being thoroughly documented for you, my dear reader. That's what you get with an Amongst the Whiskey review: a deeply thorough and utterly honest analysis based on a decade of sipping experience. So will batch 2 end up an echo of the wonderful experience I had with batch 1 of the 14 year expression? Let's dive in for a full review to find out.
Company on Label: Jack Daniel Distillery, Lynchburg, Tennessee
Whiskey Type: Tennessee whiskey
Mash Bill Percentages: 80% corn, 12% malted barley, and 8% rye
Proof: 117.6° (58.8%)
Age: 14 years
MSRP: $150
Further identification: Batch 02 was released in March of 2026
Nose: At first glance, this is a bold whiskey. The aromas pouring out of the glass are rich, undulating, and inviting with notes of caramel and molasses. Lighter linen tones, crème fraîche, and vanilla bean pod compliment the bodacious introduction. After a bit of rest, a new powerhouse smell fills my nostrils: brown sugar. It's so prominent here; I had to look in my glencairn to make sure someone didn't sprinkle some in there. Jeepers creepers, I can't find anything but that note now as it tingles through my sinuses. There's a buttery characteristic to it too that shows up when you really get your nose in there, but the proof tingle that comes with it is too hot to bear for long. Overall it's a solid profile to nose on, but I'm not as captivated as I'd like to be by a whiskey this old. Coming back after a few sips leaves the glass a little one-noted with simple yet enjoyable barrel funk. Far off in the background there are some whisper-thin nuances of cherry, fig, and plum. Late in the glencairn is as easygoing as can be with rich, creamy vanilla frosting for days. Nose too long, though, and it turns thin and airy with the hint of bleach that never seems to leave hotel linens. The empty glass smells of maple charcoal and butterscotch.
Palate: My first sip takes my tongue by storm as my eyes widen in a sudden feeling of danger. This is a proofy pour to be sure, but I'm surprised to see the label posted at a significantly lower ABV than batch 1 clocked in at. Fig, browned butter, and brown sugar dominate the taste buds. Another sip reveals a similar array, perhaps now with a little bit of musty funk behind it that vaguely reminds me of shopping at some questionable budget stores growing up. There's a kiss of root beer in there that definitely has me nostalgic. A longer sip and swish only serves to scorch the center of my tongue as the dominance of brown sugar gives way to more subtle layers of leather and glazed pecan. Late in the pour, things finally begin to soften towards vanilla frosting, amaretto, and brown butter blondie bars. The linger is long and bold, yet forgiving where you need it with creamy caramel tones, suggesting one more sip is surely in the cards. My last sip is as precipitous as the first, with all the brown sugar and caramel you can dream of. The finish lasts forever, but mainly with a tingle of alcohol before just a hint of bananas foster can be picked up if you sit with yourself for a minute, truly focusing in on the sensory experience.
TL;DR: A classic older whiskey profile with bold brown sugar anyone with a tongue can find
Rating: 4/5
While not as ubiquitous, complex, and pervasive as batch 1, this whiskey still proves to be an enjoyable pour. When shared with contributing writer Jes Smyth, she described it as "distinctly manly." It's bold, it's old, and it's liquid gold if you can find it for MSRP in my opinion. Just don't let comparison be the thief of joy. If you like this style of honest review, consider subscribing to my once-monthly newsletter. Cheers, friends!
