Jack Daniel’s Unveil Their Most Premium Release to Date – Halo MK1 McLaren Inspired Whiskey

Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Whiskey and McLaren Racing continue their ongoing partnership with the brand’s most expensive, most collectible, most premium expression to date.

By Greg Dillon

Greg Dillon is the founder of GreatDrams.com, an award-winning independent bottler. A whisky writer and author of The GreatDrams of Scotland, his work focuses on authenticity, production, and whisky as something to be shared.

When it comes to American whiskey, Jack Daniel’s is one of the most recognisable brands in the entire world. Is it the most premium and luxurious whiskey? No. Does it try to be, or claim to be? Also no. What it is, however, is a solid, affordable, tried-and tested Tennessee whiskey brand that is revered all over the globe.

I have to say, I’ve a real soft spot for JD. When it’s hot and sunny like it has been recently in the UK, a Jack and Cola over ice, served with a slice of lemon, takes some beating. It’s also nice that you don’t have to break the bank when grabbing a bottle.

Recently however, it appears as if Mr Jack has gone premium. In collaboration with the McLaren Mastercard F1 Racing Team, Jack Daniel’s have unveiled Halo Mk1 Tennessee Whiskey – Their most premium release to date.

Thinking of picking up a bottle, or just curious to learn more? Here’s what you need to know.

From Drams to Drivers – The Fastest Partnership in Whiskey

While alcohol and motor vehicles generally should be kept well away from one another, there are of course a few exceptions. Case in point, the fairly recent collaboration between Brown-Forman-owned Jack Daniel’s Tennessee whiskey, and the McLaren Formula One Racing Team.

Back in 2022, Jack Daniel’s announced that they had signed a multi-year partnership deal with the McLaren F1 Racing Team. To celebrate this new collaboration, Jack Daniel’s released a limited-edition bottle of their iconic Old No.7 whiskey, complete with McLaren themed colours. It did very well and became a popular collector’s item.

Since then, they have released a series of other limited-edition bottles, not only featuring McLaren and F1-themed designs, but also with a few tweaks along the way. Last year for example, along with a custom design, the whiskey they released also came in at a higher proof of 43% ABV, as opposed to the standard 40% that Jack drinkers may be used to.

In the past, the primary difference was the packaging and label, rather than the liquid gold itself. The elevated ABV release in 2025 was the biggest change to date. This year however, things are very different. This year saw the release of a super-premium, highly limited-edition expression.

Jack Daniel’s Halo MK1 Tennessee Whiskey

In April, 2026, Jack Daniel’s announced a new whiskey as part of their ongoing partnership with the McLaren Formula One Racing Team. The dram in question is called Halo MK1, and is the most expensive, most premium whiskey ever released by the brand, retailing at $599.99 USD per bottle.

For collectors of not only the Jack Daniel’s F1-inspired releases, but also, of super limited-edition drams, this could very well be the Holy Grail.

The whiskey, which comes in a 1-litre bottle, features exceptionally striking packaging which is designed to represent the gorgeous halo structure of the McLaren F1 racing car. The bottle itself is equipped with a selection of luxurious materials that, ordinarily, you wouldn’t expect to find on a standard bottle of Jack. It features custom medallions, micro-suede, hand-finished cork, shiny alloy metal, and the same carbon fibre print that McLaren use in their cars. The design, unsurprisingly, is evocative of those gorgeous racing cars that have brought McLaren so much success over the years.

In the words of Mark Bacon, the Global Managing Director and SVP at Jack Daniel’s, this is a ‘remarkable bottle that is destined to become a collector’s item for Formula One fans and whiskey drinkers alike’.

But what of the whiskey itself? Well, it begins with JD’s signature grain bill consisting of 8% rye, 12% malted barley, and 80% corn. It also undergoes that unique charcoal filtration through more than 10-feet of sugar maple charcoal, before being aged in hand-crafted virgin American white oak barrels. These are not your typical American oak barrels either. Oh no. These barrels were constructed from staves that have been aged in the open air for a prolonged duration of time. This exposure to the elements has helped to soften the tannins in the oak before being toasted, helping to impart a smoother, bolder palate with a deeper colour, aroma, and taste.

What I love about this expression is the attention to detail. The whiskey was bottled at an ABV of 58.7%. This was entirely deliberate, as it pays homage to the founder of McLaren, Bruce McLaren, whose very first racing car was number 58, in the form of an Austin 7 Ulster model. It’s touches like this, that really help to solidify a premium release in my eyes. It’s the small touches that make the biggest differences.

As far as flavour profile goes, having yet to try for myself, I can only go off what others have said. Tasting notes from the brand, as well as other lucky reviewers, mention aromas of maple syrup, toasted oak, raspberry, honey, and butterscotch. On the palate, it’s said to be very caramel and chocolate forward, coupled with peanut brittle, peach cobbler, honeycomb, winter baking spice, apple pie, and vanilla ice cream. The finish is complex and lengthy, revealing pipe tobacco, brown sugar, more toasted oak, vanilla, and a black peppercorn spiciness not too dissimilar from a rye whiskey.

Halo MK1 Tennessee whiskey is currently available now, though you’ll have to act fast if you want a bottle, as it isn’t just super-premium, it’s also a highly collectible, super-limited-edition release too.

Tags: Jack Daniel’sMcLaren

Greg

My name is Greg, and I’m a brand strategy consultant, writer, speaker, host and judge specialising in premium spirits. My mission is to experience, share and inspire with everything great about whisky, whiskey, gin, beer and fine dining through my writing, my brand building and my whisky tastings.