Overview: Jack Daniel’s has expanded its portfolio with the nationwide release of its American Single Malt Whiskey, following a period of exclusive international duty-free distribution. The Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau officially recognized the American single malt category in December 2024, with final rule standardization confirmed on January 19, 2025.
The Full Story
Production occurs at the Lynchburg distillery in Tennessee using 100% malted barley. The whiskey follows the Lincoln County process of sugar maple charcoal mellowing after fermentation before barrel aging. A permanent selection for Jack Daniel’s, the distillery released its 90-proof, American single malt in June 2023 exclusively for sale through international duty-free locations at airports across the globe.
In late August 2026, the distillery announced the selection will soon be available on store shelves nationwide. The product has been available in 1-liter bottles for $99.99 since the 2023 release. However, now, with the release nationwide, Jack Daniel’s is releasing its American single malt in the same 1-liter bottles for the suggested retail price of $74.99.
Production & Profile
The whiskey is aged in new charred American oak barrels with a minimum of four years followed by oloroso sherry casks for three years. Although the single malt has no age statement, the initial release involved aging for at least 4 years in American oak, followed by 3 years in sherry casks. With a deep mahogany-amber color, the whiskey showed dried fruits, tobacco, and candied walnuts mingled with milk chocolate, rum raisin bread pudding, and smoky, toasty, spiced toffee notes.
A caramelized creaminess coats the palate and lingers enticingly on the finish. The palate has definitive sweetness balanced by a nutty, smoky, slightly salty savoriness. Although the whiskey is a high 90 proof, it does not have the bite one might expect. Instead, the palate is velvety smooth, indicative of Jack Daniel’s charcoal-filtered whiskies.
Brand & Industry History
The recognition came after years of watching the category within the whiskey industry boom, as petitioners urged the government to act and producers across the country began crafting single malt expressions. This includes beloved Tennessee whiskey producer Jack Daniel’s. In doing so, Jack Daniel’s followed the standards set in place for American single malt, including that the whiskey be mashed, distilled, and aged in the United States; that the whiskey will be distilled from 100% malted barley at a single distillery, with a distillation proof of 160 (80% ABV) or less; and that the whiskey be aged in new (charred or uncharred) or used oak barrels with a 700-liter maximum capacity.
What This Means
This whiskey should not be confused with the much pricier Jack Daniel’s Twice Barreled Special Release American Single Malt Whiskey. That whiskey cask strength whiskey was released in 2022 and today has an average price of around $450. The release nationwide marks a shift from limited-release whiskey unless fans were traveling internationally to a permanent addition to the portfolio available on store shelves.
Consumer Takeaway
The whiskey is incredibly smooth, mellow, and creamy, with sweet and savory flavors that are a step above some other American single malt options tried. It is one of the best single malts for beginners just starting to explore the category. With a well-rounded and sweet flavor, its overall texture is much softer and more approachable than many more robust, earthy single malts from Scotland.
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