14 Jack Daniel's Whiskeys, Ranked

CORRECTION 4/4/23: A previous version of this article stated a bottle of Jack Daniel's 10 is 750 milliliters. It is 700 milliliters.  

It's no secret that Jack Daniel's is wildly popular, not only in the United States, but around the world. Recent sales numbers are staggering: In 2021, they sold an estimated 117 million liters of whiskey across the globe. That's a quantity that's hard to envision, so let's put it this way: That much whiskey would be able to fill about 83,500 standard-size Jacuzzis. It's somehow more impressive when it's explained that way, isn't it?

Jack Daniel's has come a long way since Jasper Newton Daniel first learned about the art of distilling in 1864. He didn't waste any time once he discovered he had a knack for it, either, opening the first Jack Daniel Distillery just two years later.

Since then, things have come a long way. They weathered the tough times of Prohibition, saw World War II supply shortages lead to increased demand, and finally — in the 1960s — they became a truly American icon. More and more products have been added, with the American whiskey brand branching out into flavored whiskey and new varieties of rye whiskey, while the decades-old favorites retain their places of honor. But that brings up an important question that fans of Jack didn't have to ask 100-plus years ago: "Which bottle should I get?" Fortunately, we're here to help you answer that.

Two varieties of Jack Daniel's fall under the label "Tennessee Travelers": Sweet & Oaky and Bold & Spicy. As the name Travelers suggests, this isn't one that's available in the U.S. And that? That automatically puts it at the bottom of our list for a few reasons.

The only way to get either bottle is at duty-free shops operated by Gebr. Heinemann. Sure, there are a lot of them, and sure, the bottles seem reasonably priced at about €30, but keep in mind these are smaller-than-usual 500 milliliter bottles. And let's be honest here: The fact that you can only take a limited amount of alcohol on flights and through customs means that you will want to choose your bottles carefully. And if you're in, say, Germany, you're going to want to bring back something German, right? Not Jack Daniel's.

That said, reviews for the bottles aren't even overwhelmingly favorable. The Sweet & Oaky is described as, well, sweet, and the Bold & Spicy has something that might be best described as "eau de Circus Peanuts." So seriously — if you're overseas, don't waste space on this. Get something from the country you visit, and you'll be much happier.

Jack Daniel's Single Barrel 100 Proof isn't going to get much love from us, either. For starters, this, too, is only available at duty-free shops: Since that's the official word from Jack Daniel's, it seems like that's going to be unlikely to change anytime soon. And again, we have the same problem with that. International travel opens up a whole world of possibilities when it comes to picking up a bottle of something you just can't get in the states, and we firmly believe that should be something that's not as widely accessible as Jack Daniel's.

It's also 100 proof, which can be something of an acquired taste. (Jack's mainstay product, Old No. 7, is 80 proof.) A quick search through reviews of those who have actually been able to find a bottle suggest that while some serious whiskey drinkers laud it, others are, well, less than impressed. Some say it just can't be sipped without being cut with water, saying it has a sweetness that — coupled with the strength — is just way, way too much. And for a rare bottle? That's not what you want to hear.

Tennessee Fire is, as the name suggests, Jack Daniel's response to Fireball. As such, it's perhaps not a huge surprise that it tastes like cinnamon. Like... just a lot of cinnamon. It smells like cinnamon, and long after you're done drinking it, you'll still be able to taste a whole lot of cinnamon.

Compared to Fireball, this one packs a spicier punch and doesn't come with that same weird, smooth, coat-your-mouth texture that Fireball does. That said, it's still just acceptable — and here's the thing: At the end of the day, it's a cinnamon whiskey liqueur, and that means it's nowhere near as strong as your standard whiskey. It's ... whiskey's next-door-neighbor, if you will, the one that listens to the same music they did in high school and drives a car that doesn't have a muffler.

And here's the kicker. Though — again — it's a liqueur and it's bottled at just 70 proof, average prices for a 750 milliliter bottle range between $30 and $40. Bottom line: If you're going to pay that much, get a better bottle. If you're going to drink a cinnamon whiskey liqueur, don't pay that much.

Jack Daniel's Apple definitely nudges aside their cinnamon liquor for one simple reason: It makes an amazing mixer. Instead of sweet apples, this has a tart, green apple flavor that allows this to be something of an oddity. It's a liqueur still, but it's not the sort of overwhelmingly sweet that makes you think you've accidentally picked up something that's supposed to belong on the kids' table. It's also got a lower price than Tennessee Fire. (Generally, that is, exact pricing depends on where you're located.) 

Anyone looking for a bottle of Jack Daniel's that tastes like whiskey, this isn't it — and that's why we're putting this one down here in our ranking of Jack Daniel's. Still, that said, it's a pretty gosh darn good mixer: Use it in a whiskey sour, or try it with lemon-lime soda, ginger ale, or lemonade, and there's no way to go wrong here. It's also a great stepping stone for anyone who might want to take a first foray into the world of whiskey drinking, and that alone has merit.

When Frank Sinatra died in 1998, he was famously buried with several things: a pack of cigarettes, 10 dimes — so he could always make a phone call — and a bottle of Jack Daniel's. Sinatra's lifelong love of Jack started in 1947, and it was an iconic bit of celebrity endorsement before that was really even a thing. Jack released their Sinatra Select as a tribute to him, but ... is it worth it?

Honestly? Not really, and here's why. Serious whiskey drinkers might be happy to have it Sinatra's way — over ice and with a dash of water — but surf through some of the reviews, and it quickly becomes clear that it's just too much for some. While some laud the complex flavors, others claim to taste things like glue. Even those who are fans say it's best in a cocktail, and here's the thing: It's a ridiculously expensive bottle for whiskey you're going to mix into a cocktail. Depending on location, a bottle can comfortably go for $135, all the way up to nearly $200. If we're even going to think about spending that kind of money on a bottle of whiskey, it better be absolutely, perfectly drinkable straight or on the rocks. There's nothing wrong with whiskey in a cocktail, but a $150 bottle that needs a mixer or two? Nah.

Let's say this right upfront: As a drink, Winter Jack is good. Like ... really, really good. Think hot apple cider with a kick of cinnamon, think hot toddies, sitting in front of the fire while the snow falls outside. It should be served not in a cocktail, but alongside a plate of gingerbread cookies. Having wool socks on definitely helps but isn't required. If we had to choose a short list of cases to be stranded on a desert island with, this would be one of them ... well, at least it would be if the island was cold and we had a way to warm this drink up.

So why's it only at the middle of the ranking? For a few reasons. For starters, it's a seasonal drink that's only offered starting in October, and honestly, that makes sense. This isn't really something you'd want to crack open in the summer, unless you're celebrating Christmas in July. Plus, it's not strong. At all. Winter Jack comes in at only 30 proof, but given that this is so good you might be tempted to finish off the whole bottle, that might be a good thing. Still — it's a bummer this is seasonal: It feels like someone's trying to tell us how to live our lives.

As the name suggests, Tennessee Rye swaps out the corn for a mash recipe that's high in rye. What does that mean? Well, Jack Daniel's Tennessee Rye is actually a pretty good example of what a rye whiskey is: It's got a bit of black pepper and clove taste going on, and what we like about this one is that it's middle-of-the-road, not-too-strong rye that's a great introduction to rye whiskeys for anyone who hasn't tried them before, particularly because of a sweetness you don't always get in rye.

It's also a great way to learn the difference: Pour a sipper of this alongside one of, say, Old No. 7, and it's a great — and inexpensive — way to see the difference and figure out just what your whiskey jam is. And at around $20 a bottle, it's not a ridiculous investment.

That said, with the affordable price point and acceptable-but-not-exceptional taste, this is a great option for keeping on hand all the time. It's good enough to drink straight, but it makes an affordable cocktail, too. (Honestly? With the spicy banana mix this brings, mix it with some cola and you're good to go.)

For a whiskey to be bonded, it has to meet certain requirements. That includes being from a single distillation season, aged for at least four years — in a federally bonded warehouse — and, when it goes in the bottle, it has to be 100 proof. That means it's incredibly strong, and there's a lot of room here for things to go terribly wrong. Jack Daniel's has been at this for a while, though, and they consistently get this right.

Complex but not as overpowering as one might expect from something that's bottled at 100 proof, there is a surprising sweetness in this bottle — and if you're not ready for it, it could be a bit too much.

We're also fans of the price point here. Depending on the area, you can pick up a bottle for around $30. You're not going to break the bank, but it's still a perfectly respectable choice to pick up and take to a party. (It is, however, worth noting that this comes in a slightly smaller 700 milliliter bottle.)

Like Jack Daniel's Bonded, their Triple Mash is also bottled-in-bond. That means the same criteria apply to this bottle, and it's also impressively 100 proof. So what gave this one the slightest advantage over the Bonded? It's not quite as sweet.

Admittedly, that's down to personal preference, but put the two side-by-side and the Triple Mash is just a little bit more in the spirit of Jack Daniel's. Because it's not as sweet, it's much more pleasant as a straight sipper or on the rocks. And that's what a respectable whiskey should be, right? Instead of the sweetness of the Bonded, think nutty, honey, and caramel. Sure, they're pretty basic whiskey-tasting notes, but there's a reason for that.

This one tends to be a little more on the expensive side, so here's our recommendation. If you're looking for something that's going to stand alone, spend a few extra bucks and pick up the Triple Mash. If you're looking for a reliable, perfectly respectable mixer, opt for the Bonded.

Here it is, the granddaddy flagship of the Jack Daniel's line. There's a reason that Jack Daniel's became such a juggernaut, and it's right here: Old No. 7. It's the one that was made famous at the feet of everyone from Frank Sinatra to Lemmy Kilmister, and that's because it's just a darn good drink.

It's not fancy, but here's the thing — it doesn't have to be fancy to be good. In a nutshell, this is what whiskey is. It's slightly sour, it's slightly ashy, and it's slightly spicy. It's got a burn, but not an intolerable burn, it's not too sweet, and it's a little oaky, vanilla-ish, and caramel-y. If someone who had never tried whiskey was asked to imagine what it must taste like just a glance at the bottle, it would be exactly what's expected.

Being absolutely iconic doesn't hurt, either, because one of the things we like in a bottle is reception. By that, we mean, If you pick this up and take it to a party, how will it be received? No one's going to say, "Ewww, Jack Daniel's Old No. 7? Yuck!" It's affordable, it's versatile, and you're not going to go wrong keeping this on your shelf.

We're a little torn by this one. On one hand, it's an incredible bottle of Jack Daniel's that has much, much more going on in it than other bottles. That, of course, is all down to the aging process, and while we respect the commitment of aging something for 10 years ...

This was initially released with a suggested retail of $70. We could honestly get on board with that as a special sort of bottle, the kind that gets kept on the shelf and brought down for special occasions. But as of this writing, the average price has skyrocketed to around $330 for a 700 milliliter bottle ... and that's just not cool. Yes, it's a 10-year-old whiskey. But at the end of the day, it's still Jack Daniel's.

Yes, it's really good. For $70. It's incredibly smooth, and it's the type of whiskey where with each sip, different flavors come through. There's the spice of ginger and star anise, there's the smoothness of butterscotch and caramel, and it's all wrapped together in a package that's not too sweet. That's great, and it might be worth the suggested retail price. It's not worth the price that it's skyrocketed to.

Flavored whiskeys can be a tough sell to those who consider themselves whiskey connoisseurs, and to that, we say, "Whatever!" Jack Daniel's Tennessee Honey is downright delicious, and that's saying a lot. Honey is a tough flavor to get right, and it can come off as way too sweet and overpowering. This combination of real honey and Old No. 7 is legit, though, and one of the things we really like about this one is versatility. It's amazing in a cocktail, great on the rocks, and if you're looking for something to serve in a fancy little glass before an extra-special dinner, you can definitely reach for this bottle — even if some of the dinner guests aren't die-hard whiskey fans.

Another great thing about this is that the whiskey flavor isn't completely drowned out by the honey, and that also makes this a great way to introduce whiskey to skeptics. Handing someone who's never had whiskey before a glass of Tennessee Rye and telling them to have a sip can turn them off from it forever, but Tennessee Honey is a delicious, easy-drinking liqueur that can definitely open up a world of whiskey.

Next time the holidays inevitably roll around and it comes time to pick up gifts for the person who delivers the mail, the veterinarian who's always on call, or the neighbor who's always there to lend a hand, get them a bottle of this. Not sure if they're whiskey drinkers? That's fine!

Think of Jack Daniel's Single Barrel Select as a milder version of their staples: Crack open the bottle, and the aroma isn't as biting as the others can seem. What's in the bottle follows suit: It's sweet but not too sweet and smoky but not too smoky, and while it retains the typical whiskey flavors of caramel and corn, it's more of a cereal feel than a horse feed feel ... which, let's be honest, some whiskeys can definitely remind you of.

While it's a little on the higher end price-wise, that's not unusual for an unblended whiskey. Still, that said, what's in the bottle seems like it would have cost more than that higher price point, and while it's not exactly an everyday sort of thing, it might just become a favorite bottle for special occasions ... and gift-giving.

There's not really anything bad that can be said about Gentleman Jack. This whiskey is run through Jack Daniel's charcoal filtering process twice, which means that it's incredibly smooth. Not only is this just a great whiskey, but it's also a great whiskey for anyone who's maybe not too sure about whiskey in general. A bad whiskey can ruin someone on whiskey for life, but Gentleman Jack might just be the drink to bring someone back into the fold.

That's especially true, considering it doesn't have the sourness of something like Old No. 7. Instead, it's the sweetness of honey and vanilla and a little bit of syrupy goodness ... but not in a bad way. Naysayers might complain about a lack of complexity, but we're not ranking whiskeys for people who put "whiskey snob" on their resume. We're ranking whiskeys for people who are looking for a bottle they can enjoy, not pontificate over — and Gentleman Jack is one of those bottles.

We also like the fact that it's affordable and widely available, because there's nothing worse than finding a new favorite drink ... and then not being able to find it again. Enjoy this one over ice, and know you're going to be able to get it again — because you're going to want to.