Jack Daniel's Single Barrel Vs Old No. 7: Here's The Main Difference

For even the most casual whiskey fans, Jack Daniel's is a household name. Known for signature square bottles containing Tennessee whiskey, many spirit drinkers anticipate a specific flavor from the brand. Yet, with a liquor so iconic, it's easy to forget that Jack Daniel's releases an array of products. The brand's lineup includes everything from overproof Bottled in Bond spirits to flavored liqueurs, as well as a constant stream of new releases.

Jack Daniel's Single Barrel Select and Old No. 7 are two expressions that are especially tricky to tell apart. Both are distilled and filtered via a similar process. The two bottles contain a similar mash bill: 80% corn, 12% malted barley, 8% rye for Old No. 7, and 80% corn, 12% rye, 8% malt for the Single Barrel Select. Both undergo the signature Tennessee whiskey maple charcoal filtration, which results in a smoothened palate. The two are even aged in the same warehouse.

At the aging stage is where the two spirits diverge. Single Barrel Select not only spends up to two years longer in the barrel, but also isn't blended across casks prior to bottling. Like a single bourbon barrel, every bottle of Single Barrel Select is siphoned from an individual cask, resulting in a wide array of flavors. Jack Daniel's further varies the palate by drawing from only high lofted barrels, which experience greater temperature volatility. So, although defined by the same Jack Daniel's foundations, the Single Barrel Select offers a more experimental character opposed to the Old No. 7's consistent palate.

For a global and widely sold brand such as Jack Daniel's, the Single Barrel Select offers a unique taste of its spirit stock. As each bottle comes from a single batch, the brand can't ensure a specific, unified flavor fine-tuned by a master blender. Instead, Jack Daniel's staff draw from expertly selected barrels, which represent a tiny portion of the brand's stock. Furthermore, opposed to the 80-proof strength of Old No.7, the Single Barrel Select is a stiffer 94 proof, lending it more character.

In the world of whiskey, single barrel bourbons are relatively modern type of liquor to distribute. Buffalo Trace-owned Blanton's commercially debuted single barrel bourbon in 1984, with Jack Daniel's rendition arriving in 1997. While the defining characteristics of Tennessee whiskey still shine through, the potential array of flavors intrigues enthusiasts. Generally, consumers find the spirit more complex and flavorful than Old No. 7, although some report dips in quality from bottle to bottle.

Many report that the Single Barrel Select tastes sweeter, with notes of oak reflective of longer aging. "There are roasted nuts, toasted oak, bananas, and vanilla. I'm also surprised to find a faint floral note, which is unusual for the brand," notes a Reddit whiskey reviewer. Upon debut, the spirit remained obscure, but popularity increased into the 21st century. Nowadays, the Select is joined by a more expansive Single Barrel collection full of varying strengths and mash bills. It's an ideal lineup for whiskey fans who want to sample an atypical Jack Daniel's expression.

Opposed to the Single Barrel Select's recent rise to fame, Jack Daniel's Old No. 7 is among America's best-selling spirits, with a history that traces back to the 19th century. Named by Jack Daniel's in 1887, this liquor exhibits flavor and legend that has long captivated drinkers. As the flagship of the brand's portfolio, Old No. 7 encapsulates the charcoal filtration process, with a flavor far more standardized than the Single Barrel series.

A bottle of the spirit contains a range of blended barrels, estimated four to seven years of age, although typically younger than the Select. Over the decades, enthusiasts note a slight discrepancy in flavor with Old No. 7 releases — the brand also decreased strength by 3% ABV in 2004. Generally, though, Jack Daniel's aims to upkeep a specific palate, rather than allot for experimentation across bottles.

Bars worldwide stock Old No. 7 for its reliable sweet-and-spicy flavor. "Brown sugar, honey, and toasty banana bread crust to start, followed by black pepper, mint, and peanuts," says a Reddit user to describe the spirit. Many pick up on banana notes in the liquor — and even more note the spirit's strength as a mixer. There's a reason Jack and Coke is an iconic cocktail pairing; this whiskey offers a long established character.