Jack Daniel's Releases Old Favorite With a Brand New Twist

If you’ve ever thought that Jack Daniel’s isn't as strong as you’d like, its limited edition Tennessee whiskey may be just what you’re looking for—though you may have to race to stock up.

McLaren Racing X Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Whiskey is the same age as the Old No. 7. But while classic Old No. 7 is bottled at 80 proof, the special edition for this F1 season is bottled at 86 proof.

In many ways, it's just classic Jack with some extra horsepower. McLaren Racing X Jack Daniel’s is distilled from a typical Jack Daniel’s mash bill of 80 percent corn, 12 percent malted barley, and 8 percent rye, making it one of the highest corn percentages in the world of bourbon-style mashes.

That, along with the characteristic Lincoln County process of filtering the fresh distillate through 10 feet of sugar maple charcoal before it’s put into barrels, makes Jack Daniel's one of the sweetest American whiskeys on the market. High proof typically allows whiskey to retain more of its original texture and flavor, which often means the whiskey will be richer overall than the original.

Want the latest whiskey news, deals, and reviews? Sign up for the Whiskey Wednesday newsletter.

According to the distillery, the additional six points of proof impart a robust and rich profile on this version of Old No. 7, “with a medium bodied blend of balanced caramel, vanilla, and toasted oak, with a creamy, clean finish,” reads the press release.

McLaren Racing X Jack Daniel’s is certainly not the most extravagant release from Jack Daniel’s. This year, it debuted Jack Daniel’s 14 Year-Old Tennessee Whiskey after releasing 12-year and 10-year versions this decade. More to the point, it’s by no means an extreme proof point. Jack Daniel’s also has a 100-proof Bottled-in-Bond Tennessee Whiskey, which is nothing compared with the Coy Hill series, some of which have proof points in excess of 150.

Still, it’s nice to see a distillery acknowledge that it can find a sippable, tasty version of its whiskey at any proof, something that often gets overlooked by cask-strength obsessives. Sometimes, you need to engineer the right drinking experience instead of finding it in the wild.

Speaking of engineering, it's McLaren’s third collaborative release with Jack Daniel’s in an era increasingly highlighted by auto partnerships. Aston Martin has partnered with Bowmore for its luxury line and Glenfiddich for its racing division, while Glenturret has previously partnered with Jaguar.

Most of the time, these partnerships lead to expensive releases. But at $35 for a 700ml bottle, McLaren is doing it differently. It's the first time that the McLaren partnership has seen a higher proof—a sign that the partnership is starting to get experimental.

Nick Martin, co-chief commercial officer of McLaren Racing, said the company was excited to offer fans “a special way of celebrating another exciting year of going racing together. We’re delighted to launch our third limited edition bottle in collaboration with Jack Daniel’s.”

Of course, trying something new from a legacy distiller is always a treat, and to pay less than $40 to do so is rare. If you’re not a fan, you’ll never feel guilty making cocktails with it, but if the proof gives you a kick, I’d recommend making another lap to the store.

Related: Jack Daniel’s Expands Experimental Whiskey Line With Barrel-Finished Ryes