On a whim, I purchased the 1954 Gold Medal Winner Limited Edition Jack Daniel's Tennessee Whiskey. I have requested that our BE heroes, Mark, Chris, and Brewer........whoever is responsible........list this whiskey so that I can do a formal review.
While I have endeavored to be objective (as far as that is given to us humans to be) in my assessments of JD products, I have found them to have a flavor that I find slightly 'off'. I cannot precisely define what it is, but it seems related to the maple charcoal filtering.........it is a bit too much charcoal along with an almost burnt unpleasantness that I can't quite put my finger on other that to say it isn't what I would prefer.
Then comes this 1954 stuff. Now, this is fine whiskey...........side by side with the JD Single Barrel in my stash........there is no comparison. Gone is the JD characteristic objectional burnt nastiness and roughness in favor of a smooth sweet/mildly spicy flavor that is much more sophisticated to this old boy.
This is the best Jack I have had. It compares very favorably and is not disimilair from the 2004 Birthday Bourbon. a first rate bourbon. I have no idea about the variability of JD 1954 whiskey, but what I have is a far cry from my JDSB and ranks as a very, very, good whiskey to me!