Frank Sinatra’s love of Jack Daniels is a legend — so hang on tight for the story behind Jack Daniel’s Sinatra Select. He helped take Jack Daniel’s from a regional TN whiskey distillery to worldwide whiskey powerhouse. All it took was a single endorsement in 1955. Ol’ Blue Eyes brought Jack Daniel’s on the rocks on stage and proclaimed: “Ladies and gentlemen, this is Jack Daniel’s, and it’s the nectar of the gods.”
Jack Daniel’s production doubled in the next year which caused a shortage. Sinatra wasn’t an official spokesman at the time, but that kicked off a relationship with the distillery. They would keep his rocks glass filled with “the nectar of the gods” whether he was flying on his private plane or waiting for his next gig in the dressing room. And Sinatra would keep crooning and drinking Jack on stage — three cubes of ice and a splash of water.
In 2013, fifteen years after Frank Sinatra passed away Jack Daniel’s introduced this limited edition of the Tennessee Whiskey Sinatra loved so much. “In the 1950s, [Jack Daniel’s Master Distiller Jeff] Arnett explains, whiskeys were generally darker and oakier with more intense, woody finishes” (source). So when creating Sinatra Select, they developed “Sinatra Barrels” (see below) — deep grooves etched in to each barrel stave doubling the surface area the whiskey is exposed to so that it achieves the dark, smokey, and oakier flavor profile Sinatra would have been drinking in the 50s.
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Table of Contents
Jack Daniel’s Sinatra Select Review
Jack Daniel’s Sinatra Select | Details |
---|---|
Production | Tennessee Whiskey with Sinatra Barrels |
Mash Bill | 80% corn, 12% barley and 8% rye |
Color | Amber |
Age | NAS |
Proof | 90° |
ABV | 45% |
Price | $150 |
Distillery | Jack Daniel's Distillery |
Pros | Smooth and Flavor Packed |
Cons | Finish |
Rating | Gold 90 Points |
Inventory | Worth Buying |
Jack Daniel’s Sinatra Select in the Glass and Color
Sinatra Select has a medium oily coverage of my Glencairn whiskey glass with an amber color.
Nose – 90 Points
I was immediately arrested by notes of fresh-baked banana bread drizzled with caramel and overripe red fruit. It had a beautiful freshness and balance.
Taste – 92 Points
It opens up with big, bold oak char and smoke rounded out with baking spice and black pepper. The sweet notes from the nose come to play — banana bread, caramel, and vanilla. This whiskey has a wonderful mouthfeel and great chew.
Finish – 89 Points
It’s a medium finish with more of that smooth caramel, vanilla, and smokey oak. You don’t expect a punch you in the face finish with this kind of whiskey but I also didn’t mind. It was an enjoyable experience.
Verdict – Silver 90 out of 100 Points
I got the chance to taste this at my local bourbon group event, and it was the surprise of everything there. I didn’t expect to enjoy this as much as I did. I know some people balk at the price, but honestly, I would buy a bottle without hesitation. It wouldn’t be a daily obviously, but I could see myself enjoying these on a hot summer night or around the fire pit.
Frequently Asked Questions
Many drinkers have asked us these questions when delving into Jack Daniel’s Sinatra Select.
What proof is Jack Daniel’s Sinatra Select?
Jack Daniel’s Sinatra Select is 90 proof.
Was Frank Sinatra buried with a bottle of Jack Daniels?
Frank Sinatra was buried with a bottle of Jack Daniels TN whiskey, Camel cigarettes, a Zippo lighter, and 10 dimes.
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Written by Matty Sims
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