Country: USA
Brand: Jack Daniels Silver Select
Type: Whiskey (Tennessee)
Age: NAS (Usually over 4 Years)
Alcohol: 50% (100 Proof)
Colour: Mahogany
Nose: Full, Rounded and Sweet. I find Sweet Buttered Corn, Rye, Maple Syrup, Caramel, Cherries in Warm Custard, Charred Oak, Orange Marmalade, light Banana, light Acetone, Peach, Pepper, Cinnamon, Walnut and a hint of Old Leather/Furniture Wax. There is some Alcohol around but nothing to scare you off. The Nose is quite attractive and better than any Jack Daniels I've tasted so far.
Taste: Strong and slightly Bitter Delivery with Charred Wood, Rye, Caramel, Toffee, White Pepper, Cinnamon, Resin, Bitter Oranges or Grapefruit, light Vanilla and a punch of Salt. I miss some Sweet tones here although I find light Corn and Cherries.
Finish: Middle-Long/Long, Dry and Spicy with Rye, Bitter Orange or Grapefruit, Sour Lemonade, Red Grapes, Cooked Red Fruit, Licorice, Pepper, Cinnamon, Butterscotch and Salted Butter.
I added a couple of drops of water to the whiskey and on the Nose, the Fruity tones are enhanced while the Alcohol is toned down. On the Palate and in the Finish the Cherries and Licorice come to the forefront. You can certainly add a few drops of Water to the Silver Select if you like.
Rating: 86.5
Nose: 22.5 – Taste: 21 – Finish: 21.5 – Overall: 21.5
General Remarks: The Jack Daniels Distillery is located in Lynchburg Tennessee. It was indeed founded by a man called Jack Daniel in 1866 and it stayed in the family until 1956 when it was bought by Brown Forman from Kentucky. The barrels for Silver Select are hand-picked and have aged in the highest places in the Barrel house where they were exposed to extreme temperature changes throughout the years. It's a Single Barrel edition, initially released as a Travel Retail Exclusive and sold at around 90 US Dollars. The very nice bottle does not specify the Barrel so it's quite possible that flavours and aromas will vary from time to time. The Silver Select I review here was bottled in 2012.
Drinking Experience Neat: Good
Drinking Experience on the Rocks: Okay/Good
Conclusion: This is the best Jack Daniels expression I have tasted so far. It's also the most expensive one. Some time ago I found the Single Barrel more in line with the general flavour pattern of the Old # 7. This Silver Select however shows more character and depth, especially on the Nose. On the Palate I find the Silver Select a tad too Bitter. With a bit more Sweet tones it could have been a stunner in my opinion. The Finish is more balanced and invites you to have another sip... and another one...and....! This is in fact a sipping Whiskey. I've tried it on the rocks as well, but there Single Barrel, Gentleman Jack and Old No. 7 do a better job. Still, a very nice and fiery Tennessee Whiskey that you should give a try if you get the chance!
Jan van den Ende June 5, 2014
