Category: bonded

Jack Daniel’s Bonded Tennessee Whiskey Review

I’m not the biggest JD fan, so I approached this Jack Daniel’s Bonded Tennessee with some trepidation. I’ve never liked the original Old No. 7 or the Gentleman too much. I have enjoyed some of the single barrels but they vary so wildly in quality so I’ve been hesitant to put any money down on […]

The post Jack Daniel’s Bonded Tennessee Whiskey Review appeared first on The Whiskey Jug.

I’m not the biggest JD fan, so I approached this Jack Daniel’s Bonded Tennessee with some trepidation. I’ve never liked the original Old No. 7 or the Gentleman too much. I have enjoyed some of the single barrels but they vary so wildly in quality so I’ve been hesitant to put any money down on one, though that might be changing.

Jack Daniel's Bonded Tennessee Whiskey Review

Between my general ambivalence towards Jack as a whiskey and the crazy swings between amazing and disgusting in their SiBs, it’s fair to say I’m a tad gun-shy of new JD products. So with all of that history in mind, I poured this Bonded Jack Daniel’s and cautiously sat down for this review.

Now, let’s get to drinkin’ and see what I found in my glass.

Jack Daniel’s Bonded Tennessee Whiskey – Details and Tasting Notes

Whiskey Details

Style: Tennessee Whiskey
Region: TN, USA
Distiller: Jack Daniel’s (Brown-Forman)

Mash Bill: 80% Corn, 12% Rye, 8% Malt
Cask: New Charred Oak
Age: 4+ Years
ABV: 50%

Jack Daniel’s Bonded Tennessee Whiskey Price: $30*

Related Whiskey

Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel Select
Jack Daniel’s Gentleman Jack
Jack Daniel’s Old No. 07
Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Rye
Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel Rye

White background tasting shot with the Jack Daniel's Bonded Tennessee Whiskey bottle and a glass of whiskey next to it.
“Born from Jack’s time-honored recipe, aged in select barrels and bottled at 100 proof. It’s a big, bold Tennessee Whiskey.” – Jack Daniel’s

Jack Daniel’s Bonded Tennessee Whiskey Tasting Notes

EYE
Coppery amber

NOSE
Dulce de leche, vanilla, oak, baking spice, milk chocolate and a touch of sponge cake and Twizzlers.

A surprisingly complex and interesting aroma that conjures an array of dark sweets.

PALATE
Oak, caramel cake, roasted corn, baking spice, vanilla, toast, touch of earthiness and dried cherries

Tastes more like the usual Jack Daniel’s, but an elevated, more complex and interesting, version.

FINISH
Med-long -> Roasted corn, caramel, baking spice and a light candy sweetness.

BALANCE, BODY and FEEL
Well-balanced, medium-full body and a warm light oily feel.

Jack Daniel’s Bonded Tennessee Whiskey – Overall Thoughts and Score

This is something I would actually consider buying if I was looking for a TN that wasn’t named George or Belle. It has a core profile that’s all Jack, but it’s a bit more refined and bold across the senses. It delivers more interesting and subtle notes that make it a nice sipper.

The one thing that does make me shake my head though is the 700ml size. I knew it was only a matter of time before US brands would do it, but it seems like Brown-Forman was just waiting to pounce on it so they could cut 50ml and charge the same price.

That said, I actually do like the size, overall design and form factor for this Jack Daniel’s Bonded Tennessee Whiskey. Just wish brands would knock a buck or two from their prices when they do the now-legal downgrade in size.

SCORE: 3.5/5 (tasty, worth checking out ~ B | 83-86)

Jack Daniel's Bonded Tennessee Whiskey Review $30
Overall
3.5
  • Nose
    (3.5)
  • Palate
    (4)
  • Finish
    (3)
  • BBF
    (3.5)
Sending
User Review
0 (0 votes)
Comments Rating 0 (0 reviews)

*Disclosure: The bottle for this Tennessee Whiskey review was graciously sent to me by the company without obligation. The views, opinions, and tasting notes are 100% my own.

Jack Daniel's Bonded Tennessee Whiskey Side Label

The post Jack Daniel’s Bonded Tennessee Whiskey Review appeared first on The Whiskey Jug.

Jack Daniel’s Introduces Pair Of Bottled-In-Bond Bottles

Jack Daniel’s has released a pair of bottled-in-bond whiskies – Jack Daniel’s Bonded Tennessee Whiskey and Jack Daniel’s Triple Mash Blended Straight Whiskey – as the inaugural entries in their new Bonded Series, and is intended to celebrate the Bottled in Bond Act of 1897, which states that a bonded whiskey must be distilled by […]

Jack Daniel’s has released a pair of bottled-in-bond whiskies – Jack Daniel’s Bonded Tennessee Whiskey and Jack Daniel’s Triple Mash Blended Straight Whiskey – as the inaugural entries in their new Bonded Series, and is intended to celebrate the Bottled in Bond Act of 1897, which states that a bonded whiskey must be distilled by a single distiller during a single season, matured in a bonded warehouse for at least four years and bottled at 100 proof (50% ABV).

Jack Daniel’s Bonded Tennessee Whiskey is comprised of 80% corn, 12% malted barley, and 8% rye and is said to contain notes of caramel, oak and spice.

Jack Daniel’s Triple Mash Blended Straight Whiskey is a blend of three straight bottled-in-bond whiskeys: 60% Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Rye, 20% of the flagship whiskey and 20% of Jack Daniel’s American Malt and is said to contain notes of honey, malt and oak.

Both Jack Daniel’s Bonded Tennessee Whiskey and Jack Daniel’s Triple Mash Blended Straight Whiskey are being made available in 700ml bottles for $30 and $33, respectively.

Cedar Ridge Bottled In Bond Rye Review

Cedar Ridge Bottled In Bond Rye is an annual release from the distillery that comes out in July. It doesn’t say on the bottle which season it encompasses, but being a regular summer release I would imagine this is distilled in the fall after the grain harvest and bottled in the spring four+ years later. […]

The post Cedar Ridge Bottled In Bond Rye Review appeared first on The Whiskey Jug.

Cedar Ridge Bottled In Bond Rye is an annual release from the distillery that comes out in July. It doesn’t say on the bottle which season it encompasses, but being a regular summer release I would imagine this is distilled in the fall after the grain harvest and bottled in the spring four+ years later.

Cedar Ridge Bottled In Bond Rye Review

Seeing so many distilleries return to the tradition of Bonded Whiskey makes me happy. I love seeing this unified standard of 4+ years, 100 Proof, only water added, etc. being adopted and adhered to by distilleries big and small. It’s even more fun and educational to compare and contrast whiskeys when you can get some side-by-side that followed the same rules.

But bonded never means tasty, and that’s always the big question, so let’s get to drinkin’ and get some answers.

Cedar Ridge Bottled In Bond Rye – Details and Tasting Notes

 

Whiskey Details

Non-Chill Filtered | Natural Color

Style: Rye (Straight)
Region: Iowa
Distiller: Cedar Ridge

Mash Bill: 85% Rye, 12% Corn, 3% Malted Barley
Cask: New Charred Oak
Age: 4+ Years
ABV: 50%

Cedar Ridge Bottled In Bond Rye Price: $50*

Related Whiskey

Twelve Five Rye
Cedar Ridge Malted Rye Whiskey
Cedar Ridge Iowa Bourbon
Cedar Ridge Wheat Whiskey
Cedar Ridge Single Malt Whiskey

White background tasting shot with the Cedar Ridge Bottled In Bond Rye sample bottle and a glass of whiskey next to it.
“This special release commemorates the 1897 Bottled-In-Bond Act. At 85%, this rye whiskey reflects the hard work of our harvester and their farm.” – Cedar Ridge

 

Cedar Ridge Bottled In Bond Rye Tasting Notes

EYE
Copperish amber

NOSE
Oak, orchard fruit, caramel, spice, breadiness, citrus and touches of dill and minerality with a lightly biscuity note.

A fairly standard rye aroma, nothing groundbreaking, but nothing wrong with it either.

PALATE
Cinnamon heavy baking spice, herbal, toffee, oak, green fruit, metallic taffy and a slight minerality and some chocolate Necco.

Woah, this is weird. It’s like if there was an olde style candy made of rye mixed with a baked good.

FINISH
Medium -> Cinnamon, oak, vanilla, minerality fades to chocolate Necco.

BALANCE, BODY and FEEL
Decent balance, medium body and a warm oily feel.

Cedar Ridge Bottled In Bond Rye – Overall Thoughts and Score

The aroma is enjoyable but very typical and unsurprising. The palate and finish on the other hand, are unique. The first sip I couldn’t equate it to any other rye on the market and now that the sample is finished… I still can’t. Closest would be the Frey Ranch Rye, but even that’s not a great comparison. The Frey is decidedly richer and also has less of a “baked goods” quality.

The longer it opens the more a cinnamon candy note appears, cinnamon bears, not red hots. It ends up being quite the spicy warm rye with a slight crafty rustic essence but without any of the crafty crap. I wish I had a larger sample of the Cedar Ridge Bottled In Bond Rye because I think it would make a great cocktail rye and I’d love to try it in something like a Basin Street.

SCORE: 3.5/5 (tasty, worth checking out ~ B | 83-86)

*Disclosure: The sample for this Rye Whiskey review was graciously sent to me by the company without obligation. The views, opinions, and tasting notes are 100% my own.

Cedar Ridge Bottled In Bond Rye Label

Cedar Ridge Bottled In Bond Rye Review $50
Overall
3.6
  • Nose
    (3.5)
  • Palate
    (3.5)
  • Finish
    (4)
  • BBF
    (3.5)
Sending
User Review
0 (0 votes)
Comments Rating 0 (0 reviews)

The post Cedar Ridge Bottled In Bond Rye Review appeared first on The Whiskey Jug.

Frey Ranch Rye Bottled-In-Bond Review

If you’re not familiar with the folks at Frey you’re missing out because they’re doing craft right and their Frey Ranch Rye Bottled-In-Bond is no exception. I loved the Frey bourbon, the second I tried it I knew I was tasting something unique in the craft whiskey world and, not to spoil it too much, […]

The post Frey Ranch Rye Bottled-In-Bond Review appeared first on The Whiskey Jug.

If you’re not familiar with the folks at Frey you’re missing out because they’re doing craft right and their Frey Ranch Rye Bottled-In-Bond is no exception. I loved the Frey bourbon, the second I tried it I knew I was tasting something unique in the craft whiskey world and, not to spoil it too much, I pretty much felt the same way about the rye. They know what they’re doing.

Frey Ranch Rye Bottled-In-Bond Review

The bottle looks great, the label looks great, the cork and glass are heavy and feel premium and when it comes to the info on their label I’m happy with it all except for one thing… no season. I’m happy there’s a batch #, but not happy there is no distillation and bottling season on there. I’d love to know if this was a spring distillation and a fall bottling or vice-versa.

I know it doesn’t have a ton to bear on the whiskey, but when you’re dealing with smaller distilleries like this it’s interesting to try a fall distillation vs a spring distillation and see if you do pick up anything different. Especially when it’s from a farm that grows their own grain. It’s super nerdy, but fun to try.

Anywho… let’s get to drinkin’!

Frey Ranch Rye Bottled-In-Bond – Details and Tasting Notes

 

Whiskey Details

Non-Chill Filtered | Natural Color

Style: Rye (Straight)
Region: Nevada, USA
Distiller: Frey Ranch

Mash Bill: 100% Rye
Cask: New Charred Oak
Age: 5 Years
ABV: 50%

Batch: 5

Frey Ranch Rye Bottled-In-Bond Price: $55*

Related Whiskey

Frey Ranch Bourbon
New Riff Rye
The Gospel Straight Rye
Rabbit Hole Boxergrail Rye
Wilderness Trail Rye

White background tasting shot with the Frey Ranch Rye Bottled-In-Bond bottle and a glass of whiskey next to it.
“Made with sustainably grown winter rye raised on the Frey Ranch, this 100% rye whiskey is smooth enough to sip yet spicy enough to shine in a cocktail.” – Frey Ranch

 

Frey Ranch Rye Bottled-In-Bond Tasting Notes

EYE
Ruddy caramel

NOSE
Caramel corn, rye bread, fresh muffins, copper, vanilla custard, caramel candy and a slight nutty note with some baking spice and oak.

If I had one word to describe the aroma it would be fresh. It’s so clean, complex and interesting despite its lack of oak… I’m impressed.

PALATE
Grainy sweet, oak, herbal spice, vanilla custard, caramel candy, citrus peels and cocoa with a touch of dill and earth.

Not quite as clean and crisp as the aroma, more earthy and grounded. It’s heavier.

FINISH
Med-long -> Dilly baking spice, oak and a bit of fruit fade out

BALANCE, BODY and FEEL
Well balanced, medium-full body and warm easy feel.

Frey Ranch Rye Bottled-In-Bond – Overall Thoughts and Score

This is good, every bit as good as the New Riff Rye I enjoy so much and beyond my liking, they have a lot in common. Both are craft distilleries, both show that craft doesn’t have to mean crap and both pay insane attention to the details. Which why their stuff is consistently so good.

Frey Rye is not super heavily oaked, which I enjoy in a rye, but that’s a good thing here. The oak taking a bit more of a backseat allows all of the sweet and earthy notes to shine and expand. Having the oak be a bit less prominent, in this case, ends up creating a whiskey that takes you on more of a sensory experience.

As you probably already know, the bourbon was good, but honestly, this takes the cake for me. It’s balanced, it’s complex, it’s approachable, the Frey Ranch Rye Bottled-In-Bond is a heck of a rye whiskey. If they keep putting out whiskey like this, they’re going to be a serious force in the market. Add them to your list of craft distillers to keep an eye on.

SCORE: 4/5 (good, definitely recommend ~ B+ | 87-89)

*Disclosure: The sample for this rye review was graciously sent to me by the company without obligation. The views, opinions, and tasting notes are 100% my own.

Frey Ranch Rye Bottled-In-Bond Review $55
Overall
4
  • Nose
    (4)
  • Palate
    (4)
  • Finish
    (4)
  • BBF
    (4)
Sending
User Review
0 (0 votes)
Comments Rating 0 (0 reviews)

The post Frey Ranch Rye Bottled-In-Bond Review appeared first on The Whiskey Jug.

1975 Old Forester Bonded Review

A few months after finding the 1981 Old Forester I found this 1975 Old Forester Bonded. I stumbled upon it, tucked away in the back of a liquor store, on a dusty hunt. It was in fantastic condition, but one thing about it stood out immediately: the color. It looked a little darker than some […]

The post 1975 Old Forester Bonded Review appeared first on The Whiskey Jug.

A few months after finding the 1981 Old Forester I found this 1975 Old Forester Bonded. I stumbled upon it, tucked away in the back of a liquor store, on a dusty hunt. It was in fantastic condition, but one thing about it stood out immediately: the color. It looked a little darker than some of the other OF BiBs I’ve had from the 70s and 80s. Though I wouldn’t be able to confirm till I got it home…. which I did.

1975 Old Forester Bonded Review

I pulled out the ’81 and the ’43 Old Forester and sat the three of them side-by-side. The color difference was shocking. A shade or two is to be expected, but the deep hue of this 4 1/2-year-old-bourbon was more like something you’d expect in a whiskey aged 3x that. This was unsual.

Color is almost never an indication of quality, so that’s not where my fascination lay with this whiskey; more around what exactly caused it. Did all the barrels from the top of the warehouse where the liquid was oversaturated with oak? A screwup that bottled older stuff than was supposed to? A mix of overoaked top and underoaked bottom barrels? So many possibilities, hopefully tasting it can yield some answers.

 

1975 Old Forester Bonded – Details and Tasting Notes

Whiskey Details

Style: Bourbon (Straight)
Region: Kentucky, USA

Distiller: Old Forester
Mash Bill: 72% Corn, 18% Rye, 10% Malted Barley
Cask: New Charred Cask
Age: 4+ Years (Fall 1970 – Spring 1975)
ABV: 50%

Price: NA – Auction, Specialty Store or Private Seller

White background tasting shot with the 1975 Old Forester Bonded bottle and a glass of whiskey next to it.
“This whisky is distilled by us only, and we are responsible for its richness and fine quality. Its elegant flavor is solely due to original fineness developed with care. There is nothing better in the market.” – Old Forester

 

1975 Old Forester Bonded Tasting Notes

EYE
Mahogany

NOSE
Dark fruit leather, oak, dark roast coffee, toffee, vanilla pod, strawberry shortcake, old leather and some baking spice and hazelnuts with a touch of sandalwood and a hint of OBE.

This is so rich, and fresh, it’s incredible. I was expecting a ton of that musty old bottle effect to float out, but no. It’s barely noticable.

PALATE
Vanilla custard, butterscotch, oak, cherry and raspberry-heavy dried dark fruit, toasted bread, hazelnuts, black tea and baking spice with a hint of OBE.

Again, the OBE on this is nearly non-existent. I’ve only had one other 70’s bottle like this and it was kept in a cool dark place (basement) the whole time. Wonder if this stayed on the floor in the back storage room of that liquor store the whole time?

FINISH
Med-Long -> Dried dark fruit, oak, caramel and baking spice fade to a chocolate pastry note.

BALANCE, BODY and FEEL
Perfectly balanced, medium-full body and a warm heavy feel.

1975 Old Forester Bonded – Overall Thoughts and Score

I can’t get over how dark this thing is for a 4.5-year-old whiskey. Normally the color isn’t something you can truly go by, but when you smell and taste the depth and weight of this whiskey it makes me wonder what part of the rickhouse this came from. Being Bonded, I doubt this was a mistake bottling, so it has to be from the barrels.

There is a lot of oak, but it’s not an oak bomb like I’d expect from all top rack barrels that had pulled in a ton of extra oak. Was this maybe a magic selection of honey barrels blended together? The barrel composition of this is as much a mystery as exactly where/how it was stored before I bought it to keep a lot of that OBE at bay.

I picked it up in the backroom of a liquor store that had changed owners and they let me clear out their dusties. But was it there the whole time? This was the only OF BiB back there so maybe it stayed in that dark corner the entire 40+ years… but who knows. Though what I do know is that this 1975 Old Forester Bonded is an exceptional example of this whiskey.

SCORE: 4/5

1975 Old Forester Bonded Label

1975 Old Forester Bonded Review $NA

Summary

This is proof our forefathers drank very well at times. This is a real gem, snatch it up or give it a taste if you get the chance.

Overall
4
  • Nose
    (4)
  • Palate
    (4)
  • Finish
    (4)
  • BBF
    (4)
Sending
User Review
0 (0 votes)
Comments Rating 0 (0 reviews)

The post 1975 Old Forester Bonded Review appeared first on The Whiskey Jug.