Jack Daniel’s is on an absolute tear with new releases, both core bottlings and limited expressions. Since 2020, they’ve released a legendary Heritage series barrel proof rye, a shelfer version of the same rye, a twice-barreled rye, two iterations of the high-proof (often hazmat) Coy Hill, three bonded whiskeys, a sherry-finished American single malt, and a pair of double-digit age-stated bottles, just to name a few. Broadly speaking, reception from consumers has been nothing short of resounding positivity, with some cracking or topping best-of lists from established outlets and reviewers.

Even Jack Daniel’s critics appear to be warming up to the brand as more competitively priced products flesh out their portfolio. Availability is an ongoing concern, but it’s hardly exclusive to the Lynchburg distillery. For 2023, the big talk of Tennessee was Jack Daniel’s 12-Year, which dropped between spring and summer, an otherwise a dull period for whiskey releases. This initial bottling arrived about a year and a half after its slightly younger predecessor. Although the 10-Year batches brought plenty of hype with them, they didn’t hit the same legendary level of acclaim that 2020’s Heritage Rye and Coy Hill releases did. Does an extra two years of aging and a 5% bump in ABV push the 12-Year to where the 10-Year couldn’t?

Nose: Musty and big burst of molasses cookies. Crème brulee, wood smoke, salted toffee, and dark butterscotch. This smells every bit of its age and then some. Eventually coalesces into maple bourbon pecan pie. Gets a bit lighter and sweeter over time, feeling more balanced.

Palate: Impressive viscosity. French toast smothered in barrel-aged maple syrup with a combination of root beer and cream soda on the side. Retains the molasses and dark brown sugar notes from the nose with a ubiquitous “char” personality dialed up.

Finish: Simmers with sweet smoke and s’mores, specifically with heavily charred marshmallows, dark chocolate, and a light maple drizzle on the graham crackers. More sips bring out a vanilla ice cream essence on the tail end that I’m a total sucker for.

Reception to the first two Jack Daniel’s 10-Year batches, though positive, came closer to the lukewarm side of the spectrum. Not so much with 12-Year Batch 1. Reviews for the oldest modern Jack Daniel’s expression (as of 2023) have been nothing short of glowing. It’s easy to see why. Jack Daniel’s 12-Year seems to do much of what the more available and similarly priced (at MSRP) Single Barrel Barrel Proof does, but with more finesse and, arguably, a greater dose of flavor. Put another way, the barrel proof bottlings are an unadulterated representation of the distillery’s profile; the 12-Year is Jack Daniel’s in its most complete form. This batch feels tailor-made for fans of the Lynchburg giant’s base profile who want it dialed up, but not to the point of sensory overload.

If that sounds like a winning formula, that’s because it is. Jack Daniel’s 12-Year is so packed with flavor that it tastes like a barrel proof whiskey without feeling like one. Where it stops short of being a personal favorite for me is in the aforementioned flavor profile. I largely respond in a hot/cold manner to Brown-Forman products, and while Jack Daniel’s is usually the safest bet, they’re hardly a guaranteed win. 12-Year Batch 1 brings nearly everything you’d expect from a mature Jack Daniel’s product, for better or worse. What initially caught me off-guard was the pour’s mustiness, which I’d partly attribute to the Lincoln County Process and how it interacts with a higher age statement. That combination brings this a relatively heavy “char” personality that should absolutely appeal to oak lovers. I, however, tend to be more fickle with those notes, especially when they form the crux of the experience.

All of this is a long-winded way to say that I appreciate Jack Daniel’s 12-Year far more than I enjoy it. In many ways, it checks nearly every box for a home-run American whiskey release. Noteworthy age statement? Check. Agreeable proof point for enthusiasts? Check. Competitive suggested retail price? Check. A drinking experience many people will like? Check. The point about pricing (and availability, by extension) is somewhat in flux with how sought-after Jack Daniel’s 12-Year became, but I imagine it’ll slowly settle down as more batches hit the market. That could also be my general indifference to finding another bottle talking. I’d like to reiterate that this is a great, well crafted release, but I’d be lying if I said I frequently crave a pour of Jack Daniel’s 12-Year.