There is a whiskey leaving Lynchburg this fall, and it carries history in the bottle.
Jack Daniel’s has announced that its American Single Malt Whiskey made from 100 percent malted barley is headed to shelves nationwide for the first time. The limited expression was previously reserved for select duty-free shops worldwide. Now American whiskey drinkers finally get their turn.
The federal Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau established American single malt whisky as an official standard in December 2024, with the new rules taking effect January 19, 2025.
It was the first new US whiskey category recognized in more than 50 years.
A Milestone Moment From Lynchburg
Under this definition, an American single malt must be made from 100 percent malted barley and distilled entirely at one US distillery. It also must be mashed, distilled, and aged in the United States. That gives the words American Single Malt some real weight. It is no longer simply a description on a label. It’s now a federally defined American whiskey style with rules of its own.
"We have seen a fantastic response from international travelers in recent years, and we are now thrilled to bring this special whiskey to friends across the country," said Jack Daniel's Master Distiller Chris Fletcher.
For Jack Daniel’s, that means a whiskey Lynchburg has already sent around the world is finally headed to American shelves.
Why This Matters to Lynchburg
“We have seen a fantastic response from international travelers in recent years, and we are now thrilled to bring this special whiskey to friends across the country,” said Jack Daniel’s Master Distiller Chris Fletcher.
The announcement came just days after the Moore County Observer reported the news.
The significance of this release extends beyond the whiskey itself. Jack Daniel’s is the only major whiskey company in the world to make its own barrels, crafted from American white oak. Today, the Jack Daniel Cooperage can produce more than 1,500 barrels per day.
This heritage stretches back to Jack Daniel himself, who established the company in 1866. The unique barrels crafted for special releases like the Heritage Barrel take a trip back in time to Jack’s humble beginnings and celebrate the vital maturation process that takes Tennessee whiskey from the distillery to the bottle.
In 2018, the distillery celebrated this historic craftsmanship with the first Heritage Barrel release. Limited to just 200 barrels, this special edition utilized unique barrel toasting techniques of the earliest coopers to create a new whiskey rich in flavor yet steeped in tradition.
Master Distiller Jeff Arnett and his team selected these hand-crafted barrels, which were slowly heated to achieve a deeper, richer toasted layer before being charred. “We hold ourselves to the highest standard when crafting and selecting Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel products. The unique barrel toasting behind Heritage Barrel creates a flavor you won’t find in any other Single Barrel expression,” said Arnett. “We believe we’ve made a whiskey that would make our earliest coopers and Mr. Jack himself proud.”
That spirit of honoring tradition while embracing innovation continues with the American Single Malt release.
What Makes This Bottle Different
For those who know Jack Daniel’s well, the story begins with what is familiar. Old No. 7, the iconic Tennessee Whiskey that put Lynchburg on the map, begins with the classic Jack Daniel’s combination of corn, rye, and malted barley. It is that recipe, distilled to perfection and charcoal-filtered through the signature 10-foot sugar maple charcoal mellowing process that defines the brand.
This bottle goes another direction, starting entirely with malted barley.
But there's no denying the significance of the moment. For Jack Daniel's, it's recognition that the world wants their whiskey. For American single malt, it's validation that the category can stand alongside its Scottish cousins. And for whiskey enthusiasts everywhere, it's another reason to raise a glass and celebrate what makes this country's spirit so special.
The grain is ground, fermented, and distilled in Lynchburg before the whiskey goes through one very familiar Jack Daniel’s step, mellowing through sugar maple charcoal. It is then aged in new, charred American oak barrels and finished in Oloroso Sherry casks.
Jack Daniel’s describes the result as rich and complex, with aromas of soft oak, fruit, and cocoa and flavors of dark chocolate-covered nuts and berries. The Sherry casks add a subtle sweetness to the finish.
The whiskey is bottled at 100- proof, a decision that reviewers have noted makes the flavors surprisingly well-integrated compared to earlier, higher-proof versions.
The Taste
Tasting notes from the Jack Daniel’s website.
Nose: You find vanilla, graham cracker, and soft oak. The intensity is notable for a 100-proof spirit.
Palate: It delivers malt-forward notes with marshmallow, toffee, and vanilla bean. There’s sweetness throughout, but it doesn’t overwhelm. The mouthfeel is creamy, with medium intensity.
Finish: Slightly dry with medium length, leaving hints of brown sugar.
All of Jack Daniel's whiskeys, including their ryes, have a distinct creaminess characteristic, which is likely due to the Lincoln County Process and their water source. Amazingly, those characteristics carry over to Jack Daniel's American Single Malt.
Not every taster has been equally impressed. Some reviewers have noted that while the sherry influence is present, it can feel somewhat buried under the sweetness. The whiskey’s sherry influence is present throughout its sip, but not as assertive as you might expect from a sherry-finished spirit. At times, Jack Daniel’s American Single Malt has more in common with a finished corn whiskey than a finished bourbon.
“It may not be a highly unique tasting American single malt, but the flipside is it is an extremely approachable and drinkable American single malt whiskey,” writes one reviewer. “I would not be surprised if it ends up becoming somewhat of an ambassador for this style of whiskey as more and more whiskey drinkers decide to give it a try.”
Reviews of early samples from the distillery paint a picture of approachable sophistication.
A Bit of History
For a distillery that has spent nearly 160 years making whiskey in the hollow, it is another turn down a different road. Different grain. Different finish. A brand-new American whiskey category.
But before a bottle of Jack Daniel’s American Single Malt reaches a shelf anywhere else in the country, what is inside still begins in the same little Tennessee town it always has, Lynchburg.
The story of Jack Daniel’s American Single Malt goes back further than the nationwide release. In late 2022, Jack Daniel’s Distillery finally revealed their long-rumored American single malt as a limited Twice Barreled Special Release. That was finished at 105.7 proof and offered only through travel retail channels.
As Master Distiller Chris Fletcher summed it up, "This was never an attempt to create a Scottish- or Irish-style malt whiskey. We wanted to make a modern single malt in a Tennessee style, the best we could in an American way."
The company’s follow-up, now simply titled Jack Daniel’s American Single Malt Oloroso Sherry Cask, is similar to the limited release in some ways, but different in others. Both underwent Jack Daniel’s traditional 10-foot charcoal mellowing process. Both were entered into their first-fill barrels in 2015 and aged for about five years. Both were finished in 300-liter Oloroso Sherry casks to add richness.
While the 2022 Special Release version was finished for approximately two years and then bottled as single casks, this latest version added a year to its finishing time for a total of three years. More impressively, it is a blend of 100 sherry casks, which translates to the equivalent of approximately 250 standard 53-gallon barrels.
The Bigger Picture
This release matters for several reasons, not the least of which is that it helps legitimize the American single malt category itself. As one reviewer put it, “For American single malt lovers who prefer the extremes, I am not sure if its single malt qualities are pronounced enough for them to fully embrace it. But for whiskey drinkers who are just starting to explore, it is a perfect introduction.”
The whiskey’s approachability is its superpower. It does not demand that you understand the intricacies of malted barley fermentation or the nuances of sherry cask finishing. It simply invites you to take a sip and see what you think.
At $74.99 for a 1-liter bottle, it’s not cheap, but it is not positioned as a luxury collectible either. It is meant to be discovered, enjoyed, and shared. That is the spirit of Jack Daniel’s for the past 160 years.
Looking Further Ahead
Jack Daniel’s has built an empire on consistency. The Old No. 7 that your grandfather bought at the corner store is the same whiskey that sits on your shelf today. But that does not mean the distillery has no room for innovation. The 14-year-old release, the rye whiskeys, the various special releases, they all prove that Jack Daniel’s can honor tradition while pushing forward.
American Single Malt is their current push forward. It’s a carefully planned step into new territory, crafted with the same hands that have made Tennessee Whiskey famous for generations.
As the bottles start to appear on shelves across the country this fall, whiskey drinkers will finally get to taste the Lynchburg product that has been circling the globe for years. Whether they will love it or find it just another step in an ever-expanding brand portfolio is yet to be determined.
Hopeful more brands will follow their lead...
I hope that releasing previously International only expressions will change like this. So many American drinkers have to find someone to go to the airport and buy for them, then hopefully they ship the bottle to them, versus just pocketing the money. Waiting for the package to travel to them and not be stopped in inspection. Will the availability tank price? I highly doubt it. Those buyers will now be able to spend less money on getting the bottle stateside.
The Price and Availability
Jack Daniel’s American Single Malt will be offered in 1-liter bottles with a suggested retail price of $74.99. Jack Daniel’s said the limited annual release will reach retailers nationwide this fall, with quantities limited by market.
The bottle itself is designed to stand out. The regal blue packaging is distinctive and eye-catching, a design choice that collectors and die-hard Jack fans will undoubtedly appreciate. It is a bold statement for a whiskey that is taking a bold step into uncharted territory.
Please Drink Responsibly.
