Yes, Chris Fletcher (Jack Daniel's Master Distiller as of 2020) had released some generic statements about his thoughts on this new whiskey, but he was not the one who distilled it. The press release went as far as to say that the barrels that make up the 2022 Special Release were distilled in 2015.
The Flavour. Partly it’s the flavor. Jack Daniel’s, a Tennessee whiskey because of how it is made, has a smokey aroma with hints of caramel and vanilla, with some also reporting notes of butterscotch and toffee. It goes down smooth as silk, leaving a trail of short-lived fire before filling you with warmth. It finishes smooth, the flames
Definitely a substantial step up in quality. I'm not a big fan of either, but I will always gladly drink a Jim Beam. X2 for cant pay me to drink Jack Daniel's, it's truly an embarrassment to the name whiskey. I've personally never liked Jack Daniels Old No. 7. Jim Beam is nicer to drink both neat and with a mixer imo.