“The
Lady is a Tramp”
Country: USA
Brand: Jack Daniels Sinatra Select
Type: Whiskey (Tennessee)
Age: NAS
Alcohol: 45% (90 Proof)
Colour: Deep Amber with a shade of Orange
Nose: Sweet but not as Smooth as I expected. The Alcohol is quite noticeable and so is the Wood. The "Sinatra" barrels certainly left their marks. I also find Sweet Corn (Syrup), Rye, Malt, Charred Oak, light Acetone, Caramel, Custard, Overripe Bananas, Orange Peel, Peach, Apple, Cherry, Butter, Honey coated Nuts, Pepper, Cinnamon and traces of Furniture Wax, Leather and Tobacco. On the Nose, the Sinatra Select has more Oak and Depth than the Old # 7 but is not as pleasant as the Single Barrel and not as delicious as my favourite, the Silver Select.
Palate: Strong, Hot, Spicy and Bitter Sweet. The Wood influence is quite strong and tends to dominate the other Flavours such as Sweet Corn, Rye, Caramel, Toffee, Vanilla, Butterscotch, Orange, Cherries and Banana. I also find Charred Oak and Spices like Pepper, Cinnamon and Clove.
Finish: Middle-Long, Hot, Woody, Spicy and Buttery. Quite Dry after a few seconds. I find Sweet Corn, Rye, Orange, Charred Oak, Cooked Red Fruit, Butterscotch, Banana, Salted Butter, Soy Milk, Vanilla, Pepper, Clove, Menthol, Cinnamon and a little Licorice.
I added a couple of drops of water to the whiskey and the Alcohol retreats of course. On the Nose you will find more Fruit and Vanilla. On the Palate the Sinatra Select is less Hot but the Finish becomes rather Short. Still I would advise you to experiment with a little Water.
Rating: 81.5
Nose: 21– Taste: 20 – Finish: 20 – Overall: 20.5
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. Jack Daniels Sinatra Select was released in 2013 to honour the friendship between Frank Sinatra and Jack Daniels. For around 40 Years, Jack Daniels was Frank's favourite whiskey and he almost acted as a Brand Ambassador. What's special about the Sinatra Select? In the first place it is bottled at 90 Proof, the original ABV of Jack Daniels Old # 7 before it was diluted twice over the years. And it partially matured in "Sinatra" barrels. Deep grooves were cut into the staves of those casks increasing the exposure of the Whiskey to the Wood. Those barrels are then married with a much larger percentage of casks containing the normal Old # 7. The Package and Bottle are spectacular but the price is very high at around 160 US Dollars for a 1 liter bottle (April 2016).
Drinking Experience Neat: Okay/Good
Drinking Experience on the Rocks: Okay/Good. The Wood is too heavy in my opinion. The Single Barrel is the best option if you like your JD over Ice.
Conclusion: Frank Sinatra used to enjoy his Jack Daniels with a little Ice and a little Water. That leads me to conclude that he liked his Whiskey Smooth. I'm not sure therefore that he would have liked this Sinatra Select that was crafted in his honour. Because the extra Wood contact in the Sinatra barrels has left this expression Woody, Hot and a little on the Rough side. The Wood is too present in my opinion although it does provide the Smoky Aroma that Frank used to love. If you are used to enjoy your JD over Ice, both the Gentleman Jack and the Single Barrel are the better options. If you prefer to sip it neat, the Silver Select is the JD for you. Forget about this Sinatra Select despite the very nice bottle and packaging. No way it deserves its very steep price. In fact, The Lady is a Tramp!
Jan van den Ende April 14, 2016 and March 16, 2017
