For the team at Jack Daniel Distillery in Lynchburg, Tennessee, filling barrels for its Old No. 7 brand, the largest selling American whiskey in the world, has been a nearly all-consuming task over the decades. But there have been some adventures beyond that core label, of course, and this year we were treated to one of them—Jack Daniel’s Bonded. In selecting the whiskeys for this final blend, the search was on throughout the warehouses for whiskeys with boldness and depth of color. That search struck gold, as Jack Daniel’s Bonded emerged to become our 2022 Whisky of the Year. Like all bonded whiskeys, Jack Daniel’s Bonded was produced in one distilling season, aged for a minimum of 4 years, and bottled at 50% alcohol by volume. Our tasters found gentle aromas of dried herbs, cherry, banana, and well-integrated oak on the nose, leading to a bold palate of honeyed peanuts, brown sugar, dark chocolate, and melted caramel, all accented by peppery spice. Even with its heft and pleasant mature notes, this is still a fresh, vibrant whiskey. It’s also one with lots of character, offering a host of flavors that marry well. Jack Daniel’s Bonded isn’t entirely new, as it has been available in global Travel Retail for the past several years. This year became the chosen moment to have it join the permanent range. It’s now part of the new Jack Daniel’s Bonded Series, which seems a likely place where we will find other interesting bonded expressions in the future. —David Fleming