Filtered twice, aged in American oak barrels and finished in maple barrels, Jack Daniel's No. 27 release is a limited edition priced around $80. It's worth noting here, orthogonal to the current maple syrup barrel finishes some producers are releasing, that Jack Daniel's is using barrels made from maple wood for finishing - not oak barrels that aged maple syrup for some period of time.
I was under no illusions that this bottle probably wouldn’t be my cup of tea. It’s clearly designed to gift as a present to a person who says they like whiskey or Jack Daniel’s, but can’t handle whiskey over 100 proof
It’s good overall but light, thin and really sweet. Right for the right kind of drinker, and makes for an easy "relaxing dram" - something light, flavorful, and doesn't require a lot of work to break down. No off putting notes.
And while the maple notes were enjoyable, the wood notes dominate the pour and prevent other flavors from fully developing. The result is a relativity dry, tannic experience that left me wanting more.
The impact of that maple barrel is profound and, frankly, a bit too intense for everyday drinking, culminating in a whiskey that ends up dialed a bit too far to the sweet side of things for may tastes. That said, rabid Gentleman Jack fans may want to pay a bit closer attention to this release.
