TOP SHELF

Jack Daniel's 14 Year Review

I survived three store lotteries and ghosted a work meeting to score this JD 14. Was it worth the boss's side-eye and the 5am lineup? Let's dive into this leather-wrapped Tennessee surprise.

Bourbon Flex Score™ (38/50) A surprising leather bomb with serious winter vibes

Rickhouse Recommendo: Bunker Worthy

The leather-forward profile might surprise you, and this one will only improve with age. If you see it, grab a bottle (or two).

Quick Stats Box

• MSRP: $149.99

• Secondary: $500-$600

• Hunting Difficulty: 4/5 👀 👀 👀 👀 

• Allocation Status: Very limited

• Best Trade Value: Excellent potential for swaps in bourbon groups. Secondary value has dipped slightly, but still a solid trade.

The Flavor Breakdown

Vibe Check

Imagine walking into a saddle shop where someone's baking cinnamon rolls in the back room. Leather slaps you first, followed by brown sugar warmth and old oak beams that have seen some history. Makes your bourbon group shut up mid-sentence when they nose it.

The Sip

First wave hits with cinnamon Red Hots thrown into a campfire — spicy heat that doesn't burn your face off. Then comes that brown sugar and maple cavalry to balance things out. But that leather note? It struts across your tongue like it owns the place — richer and more complex than anything with "Jack Daniel's" on the label has a right to be.

Afterparty

Lingers longer than your buddy's story about the time he "almost" got a Pappy 23. The spice and sweetness do a slow dance while the leather settles in like it's paying rent. Not the longest finish in the game, but memorable enough that you'll crave that next pour before this one's even done.

Where This Belongs

Pull this out when winter hits and you need something to make staying home feel like a flex. Perfect for shutting up the JD hater in your bourbon group or impressing the father-in-law who still thinks Gentleman Jack is top-shelf.

The Hunt

You're not finding this at MSRP unless your store manager owes you money. Secondary is hovering around $500-600, but don't panic — these bottles are still appearing at random drops. Make friends with your local chain store whiskey guy. Like, actual friends. Not the "I'll take your number for releases" fake friendship.

Trade or Bunker Tip

Hold onto this one if you can, as it’ll get harder to find over time. When Fred Minnick inevitably puts this in his Whiskey of the Year rankings, this bottle’s value will spike. It’s a fantastic trade option once the hype settles down, or if you can find it closer to $300.

Ricky-Andy’s Final Thought

If Jack Daniel's 14 were your weekend ride, it'd be a '72 Bronco with fresh leather seats. It turns heads, has some muscle, and feels way more premium than it should. A little rough around the edges, but packs personality and warmth.