American

Jack Daniel’s Old No. 7 Review + Tasting Notes

$15

OVERALL
RATING

8

Jack Daniel’s Old No. 7 Review + Tasting Notes

Jack Daniel's Old No.7 is one of the most popular whiskeys in the world. Phil Dwyer revisits a classic to see if it holds up today.
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Tasting Notes:

About:
An absolute classic whiskey. A foundation product of everything the industry is built on, with it’s many social calls to fame as well. A favorite of Frank Sinatra (he’s even buried with a bottle), Keith Richard, and Jimmy Page – this bottle has about as much rock ’n’ roll history associated to it as you could want. Also, one of the most awarded whiskeys in the modern world, too.
Appearance:
Golden Brown.
Nose:
The classic notes of charcoal filtered Tennessee goodness. Banana bread, brown sugar, caramel, toffee, a little toffee apple, a slight hint of malted barley that gives it a biscuit like taste, too.
Palate:
You feel those little drying elements of charcoal filtering and the warmth of American oak influences. Outside of this slightly drying notes, you still tase all of these wonderful corn driven flavor profiles Caramel, toasted sugars, more banana bread notes, and a little oaky spice that rounds off those sweet notes to something more adult.
Finish:
Here’s the oak! It is toasty, warming, gently spicy and carries loads of flavor across your palate. You still get a little bit of those sweeter notes, but that gentle delivery of heat across the back of your throat is oh-so pleasing.
Comments:
I love this stuff. I always have a bottle of it in the house for neat drinks and mixing. Everyone likes it, its so widely available, it’s just a seriously good quality bottle of affordable whiskwy.

Editor’s Note: This whiskey was either bought as a sample by The Whiskey Wash or provided to us as a review sample by the party behind it. Per our editorial policies, this in no way influenced the outcome of this review.

How Many Awards Does Jack Daniel’s No. 7 Have?

It’s not something they shout about, but if you dig into Jack’s history, you’ll find they’ve picked up quite a few gold medals from around the world. The most notable of these were celebrated with a series of specially shaped bottles that commemorated their gold medal wins over the past century.

Jack Daniel’s Gold Medal Wins:

1904, 1905, 1913, 1914, 1915, 1954, 1981
Their first major win came at the 1904 World’s Fair, where they took home the gold medal for the world’s finest whiskey. That milestone was later honored with a special bottle release in 1996. The other commemorative bottles followed in 1997, 1998, 2001, 2002, 2005, and finally in 2006.

In more recent years, Jack Daniel’s has continued to collect accolades, especially from the Bartender Spirits Awards, where the brand has earned Double Golds, Best Value awards, and even a World Whiskey of the Year title.

Is It a Well-Reviewed Whiskey?

Old No. 7 is one of the most reviewed and talked-about whiskeys in the world. If you browse the archives online, you’ll see a wide range of opinions, anywhere from 2 stars to 5. It’s worth taking a look at the variety of reviews out there, because there are plenty.

The key thing to keep in mind is why you’re drinking it. This is very much an introductory bottle, something that can open the door to American whiskey. It’s not a bottle you put on a pedestal for complexity or nuance. It’s made to hit a certain price point, and for that price, it does the job. But ultimately, it’s something you’ve got to try for yourself.

How Should I Drink Jack Daniel’s No. 7?

We’ve all had a Jack and Coke at some point—you can almost taste it as you say it. But drinking Old No. 7 neat is a different experience compared to a lot of other American whiskeys. That said, most people mix it, and if that’s how you enjoy it, go for it. There’s no wrong way to drink Jack.

Phil Dwyer

Phil Dwyer is a freelance whisky writer and consultant. With a decade of experience in whisky retail and nearly as long running Whisky Wednesday on YouTube, Phil is dedicated to sharing his knowledge and enthusiasm with fellow whisky lovers. His goal is to make whisky accessible and enjoyable, dispelling the jargon and complexity that can sometimes surround the spirit. In addition to his online presence, Phil managed The Whisky Shop Manchester, where he curated an impressive selection of some of the finest drams available.

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