Background

My last look at Jack Daniel’s offerings took stock of their 10 and 12 year releases, and now it’s time to check in on some rye! Roughly three years ago, Jack Daniel’s dropped their single barrel, barrel strength rye on the market as a special release. At that time, it was their fifth dalliance into rye- but their first time putting out a rye at barrel proof. I think it’s fair to say it was an unequivocal success with critics and the whiskey market alike. Secondary for this Special Release has run hot ever since.

This year, Jack Daniel’s announced their Single Barrel Barrel Proof Rye as a permanent line expression. When you take into account Jack Daniel’s formidable production capabilities and the current availability of their Single Barrel Barrel Proof bourbon, I think it’s fair to hope that this will be reasonably obtainable in the near future. All that availability talk aside though, are these even worth (in my humble opinion) seeking out? Let’s get into it!

Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel Special Release Barrel Proof Rye (NAS, 130.6 Proof)

Nose: Candied orange, honey, wood but I’m personally getting pine needles? It’s a sharper, almost Christmas-y wood aroma.

Palate: Bananas foster, cinnamon sugar, butterscotch, and anchored by that underlying pine and orange peel note. Sacrilegious to some, but this would KILL in a cocktail.

Finish: I’m still getting consistent pine needles and orange peel, paired now with a nice oak and baking spice lingering pull on the palate.

Excellent to Incredible (8.5/10)

Overall: Rich, complex, and bursting with flavor- there’s not a ton not to like about this sip. There’s a consistent citrus (and it’s a sweeter, almost orange candy sweetness) and rye spice balance throughout.

Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel Barrel Proof Rye (NAS, 137.3 Proof) barrel 23-04043

Nose: A more prominent honey note than the Special Release, and then chai spice? A spiced tea essentially with a spoonful of honey.

Palate: Again that chai tea and honey note from the nose. It’s plenty spicy but doesn’t tilt over the edge into “spoonful of pure baking spice” territory. Hints of cinnamon apple. Some of that butterscotch, maybe torched banana from the special release, but it’s definitely more subtle.

Finish: I get a lot of sticky, sugary mint with a gentle undercurrent of baking spices and tobacco. Pretty long in length.

Great to Excellent (7.5/10)

Overall: Is anyone doing near to and above hazmat proof whiskey better than Jack Daniel’s right now? Seriously, I dare anyone to guess this is 137 proof when drinking it. It’s not that it doesn’t have heat, it does, but it’s well integrated into the sip and you still get A LOT of flavor.

People might read this, jump to the scores and think there's a meaningful gap, which isn’t really my intent. The Special Release, to me, drinks more well rounded. There's a throughline of citrus sweetness, then almost this pine/evergreen note. Barrel Proof is a bit more scattered on the flavors, and others might like the adventure of that sip more! I like the consistent nose to palate of Special Release… but it’s possible you could catch me on a different day and reverse these. How wonderfully non-committal of me!