Jumpin’ for Jack (Round 3!) - Jack Daniel's High Toast Oak Finished Rye vs High Toast Maple Finished Rye Review

Background

We’re back with more Jack! I’ll be honest, I didn’t expect to spend my summer crushing a bunch of Jack Daniel’s rye, but honestly it’s July, we have the 4th, fireworks, cookouts, and JACK DANIELS. ‘Murica. My previous two looks at Jack Daniel’s covered their 10 and 12 year releases, and, just last week, Special Release Rye vs Single Barrel Barrel Strength Rye.  

These two offerings come from Jack Daniel’s “Distillery Selection Series,” which is a pretty self-evident title. Available only within Tennessee, this is JD’s way of rolling some experiments out to the market. Previously called “Tennessee Taster’s”, past releases include unique offerings such as a Red Wine and Hickory Smoke finished Tennessee Whiskey. Let’s redo a fun game I started in my 10 and 12 year JD review: find a list of these Distillery Selection offerings on JD’s website…

On their Limited and Special Edition Products page, you’ll see a bunch of Tennessee Tasters, then a Distillery Selection Series tile that only notes the Toasted Pecan Wood Chips finished Tennessee Whiskey. Come on Jack Daniel’s! Let’s devote like, .01% of whatever the marketing budget is from premixed Jack and Coke cocktails to get this page in order. Anyways, the two we’re reviewing here are the rye finished in high toast oak barrels (selection # 009), and the rye finished in high toast maple barrels (selection # 008). Let’s see if these hold up to precedent set by the barrel proof ryes!

Jack Daniel’s Distillery Series Rye Finished in High Toast Oak Barrels (NAS, 101 Proof)

Nose: French toast with some slices of banana, vanilla bean, burnt sugars and a fair amount of oak.

Palate: Still getting French toast! Bananas foster, nutmeg, and again a notable amount of oak from the barrel finish.

Finish: Big vanilla bean, maple syrup (ironic I know), and lingering bananas alongside more toasted oak... I’m just getting too much wood influence honestly.

Good (5/10)

Overall: There's some nice notes, but the wood influence is just dialed up too high. The finish is borderline licking polished wood. I also feel like this has opened up to be MORE wood forward. My initial notes were more favorable, but on revisiting I'm basically fake chewing after the sip to try to fire up my salivary glands to clear a little of this wood out.

Jack Daniel’s Distillery Series Rye Finished in High Toast Maple Barrels (NAS, 101 Proof)

Nose: Candied maple, more vanilla bean, banana pudding. Sweet and inviting.

Palate: Maple, still some banana pudding, enter... dark chocolate alongside some wood influence and light spices.

Finish: A rich mocha, espresso and dark chocolate vibe here, a fair bit of barrel influence too.

Great (7/10)

Overall: The wood influence is more benign here, the sweeter notes pop leading to a really nice balance. What I'm just missing here is some nice rye spice, the occasional baking spice kick would be nice. All in all though, a nice pour.