A whiskey has to check a lot of boxes to be named our #1 Whiskey of the Year, but ultimately it boils down to one core attribute - the whiskey has to leave a lasting impression. It is serendipitous that this year, our #1 Whiskey of the Year comes from the first registered distillery in the United States, Jack Daniel’s. The Jack Daniel Distillery has a long, storied history dating back to 1866. The brand has, at times, been known only as a mainstream mass-produced whiskey intended to be mixed with Coke as a simple but effective social lubricant. However as American whiskey has undergone a modern-day Renaissance over the past two decades, Jack Daniel’s, or more specifically the people who are Jack Daniel’s, have paid close attention and evolved the brand as consumers’ tastes have changed.

In 2025, Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel Heritage Barrel solidified the distillery’s commitment to this mantra. A subtle, yet incredibly notable release, this permanent line extension for the brand highlights the historical significance of past barrel-making techniques with what is, in every sense of the phrase, an “Everyman’s whiskey.” Built off what were limited edition bottlings in 2018 and 2019, the 2025 release is a mainstay product available at a consumer-friendly price point and is intended to be readily available in the marketplace.

To produce Heritage Barrel, Jack Daniel’s uses their standard Tennessee Whiskey mashbill and sugar maple charcoal mellowing process. However, Heritage barrels use a high-toast, low-char technique that was “inspired by the earliest barrel-making traditions,” according to the brand. Standard Jack Daniel Distillery barrels are toasted for 12 minutes and then charred; however, Heritage barrels are toasted for 24 minutes and then flash-charred, doubling the toasting time and meeting the minimum requirement to still be considered charred oak for purposes of qualifying as Tennessee whiskey. The distillate enters the barrels at a lower than usual proof of 100, and barrels are aged for at least 7 years in some of the highest-elevation barrel houses on Jack Daniel’s property, typically achieving proof points in the 104-110 range during this time. The whiskey is non-chill filtered and proofed back down to its original barrel entry proof of 100 for bottling, which requires just a small amount of water due to its low barrel-entry proof.

Heritage Barrel is a single barrel product, so no two barrels will be exactly the same, though the core characteristics and level of quality hold true from barrel to barrel. But in that fact also lies the reward and a virtue worth highlighting. It provides an opportunity for newly-inspired bourbon and American whiskey fans to engage with the fascinating impact each individual barrel might have on the whiskey over its many years of aging, while also quenching the thirst for nuance that long-time bourbon enthusiasts crave.

Jack Daniel’s Heritage Barrel stays true to the distillery’s Tennessee whiskey roots, with sweet-oak balance at its core. But the rough edges sometimes found in the distillery’s other offerings are pleasantly smoothed out. Flavors of gingerbread, vanilla custard, caramel, graham cracker, and toasted marshmallow and oak are summoned to satisfying and widely appealing results. While not groundbreaking on the surface, it is the sheer subtlety of nuances this whiskey puts forth and the vast audience it speaks to that make it remarkable.

More so than most years in the past, 2025 exemplified American whiskey’s modern day renaissance and will go down as a year of many great whiskeys. There were many whiskeys that could have been our #1 Whiskey of the Year due to a specific trait(s) they showcased, however only one checked off all the boxes. Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel Heritage Barrel stands out as our #1 Whiskey of the Year due to its overall quality, nuance, and balance, with a widespread allure to both new and experienced whiskey drinkers alike.

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FULL REVIEW

SRP: $70 / 750mL

WHERE TO BUY: FROOTBAT

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