Distillery: Jack Daniel’s
Proof: 137.3
Age: NAS (but minimum of 4 years)
Mashbill: 70% Rye, 18% Corn, 12% Malted Barley
Price: $60 (MSRP), will likely be $100+ on secondary
Company
Located in Lynchburg, Tennessee and owned by Brown-Forman, Jack Daniel’s is one of the most well-known names and highest-selling brands in whiskey. They’re most known for creating sour mash Tennessee whiskey—which is like bourbon but the distillate goes through an extra step called the Lincoln County Process (charcoal filtering).
Production
According to a Jack Daniel’s press release, Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel Barrel Proof Rye is aged in only specially selected barrels at the highest reaches of barrelhouses, which produces whiskey with deeper colors and flavors.
The press release then goes on to say:
“The combination of our unique rye grain bill and barrel house locations make for a special rye whiskey that perfectly balances bold and smooth,” said Chris Fletcher, Jack Daniel’s Master Distiller. “We’ve offered our rye whiskey at barrel strength through special limited releases in the past, and the responses from the whiskey community have been overwhelmingly positive. Now we’re excited to have our Barrel Proof Rye as a permanent part of our whiskey offerings to give even more of our friends a chance to try this special expression.”
Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel Barrel Proof Rye Review
Jack Daniel’s provided us with a sample for this review.
Nose – 3.75/5
Deep caramel and butterscotch with hints of cinnamon, baking spice, raisin, and rye. Even the nose is super hot. It made me excited to see the 137.3 proof in action upon the first sip.
Palate – 4.25/5
Complex and rich with intense spice and heavy rye with undertones of cinnamon, butterscotch, and caramel. It’s really hot but not as spicy as the incredibly high proof would have you believe.
Finish – 3.75/5
Ridiculously long finish that’s really hot. Heavy baking spice, leather, and oak that fades into subtle notes of caramel and butterscotch. One of the more intense finishes I’ve expeienced.
Value – 3.5/5
There’s a lot to love about Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel Barrel Proof—this new release certainly doesn’t disappoint. The main critique I have is the heat. The sample I got was over 137 proof and it was a wild ride. You could tell there was a great and rich flavor profile under all the heat, but the heat tended to overshadow everything.
Other batches that are under 130 proof might be different.
I think it’s also priced fairly at $60 MSRP. The problem is, this will be released on an allocation basis. That means the price could easily soar over $100.
Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel Barrel Proof Rye Review: The Verdict
3.81/5
We score each bourbon based on nose, palate, finish, and value.
Scoring System:
- Platinum – 4.25 – 5
- Gold – 3.25 – 4.24
- Silver – 2.75 – 3.24
- Bronze – <2.75
Hunter Branch is the Founder and Director of Editorial for Bourbon Inspector. He has been writing about and professionally reviewing bourbon since 2020 (and has been drinking it for much longer). He’s been able to interview big names in the bourbon industry like Trey Zoeller from Jefferson’s Bourbon and his work has been featured in publications like TastingTable, Mashed, and more.