Jack Daniel’s Barrel Proof Rye Single Barrel Select
In-Depth Review
I have to admit that I’ve been excited about Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel Barrel Proof Rye. Ever since it was announced, I’ve visited the distillery, my local shops, and even bars around me trying to taste it. I wanted to see if it lived up to the hype of the limited rye release Jack Daniel’s did back in 2020, or if that was simply a flash in the pan – never to be replicated. And the search only intensified after I found their Jack Daniel’s Bonded Rye release to be fantastic – dreaming of what it’d be like at barrel proof.
And when my local store a single barrel they had selected earlier this year, I jumped at the chance. Located in Pasadena, Everson Royce is probably the first shop to have one of these single barrel selects to make it to Southern California. Made up of Jack Daniel’s rye mashbill (70 percent rye, 18 percent corn, and 12 percent malted barley), and bottled at barrel proof, I figured it was worth the $70 cost of admission. So, let’s dive in and see if it’s worth the hunt!
As an aside – I find it hilarious how long the names of these barrel proof releases are from Jack Daniel’s. I’m sometimes surprised they can even fit in on the labels.
Age: Non-Age Stated (But likely around 7 years)
ABV: 64.25%
Cask: N/A
MSRP: $65
Distillery Name: Jack Daniel’s
Review Date: 9/29/23
Color: Burnt Caramel
Nose: The nose starts off big, with mint leaf, spun sugar, almonds, caramel bark, and a heaping of dark cocoa. Then comes a wave of dark red berries, cookie crumble, and graham cracker pie crust. The nose is unmistakably rye, without feeling traditional. It’s leans on the sweeter side and has none of the earthy character of some of Jack Daniel’s earlier (younger) rye releases. It all comes together like mint chocolate dipped raspberry.
Palate: Wow. This is a rollercoaster. The starts lulls you into thinking maybe there isn’t much here, but before that thought has even flashed across your mind - BOOM - it bursts with flavor and reminds you that Jack Daniel’s can pack a lot of flavor with a lot of punch. There are notes of dark cherry, candied fruits, eucalyptus, green apple, and marzipan that dance along your tongue while simultaneously punching you in the mouth with heat. Makes me think of a Christmas cake that can clear your sinuses. The mouthfeel is good but not extraordinary, but the big, bursts of flavors more than makes up for it.
Finish: Long finish that reminds me of a spicy cherry lollipop. Like some of the Mexican candies I ate growing up in Los Angeles. More mint and black tea return, with a touch of honey and a long building heat that gives your chest a big Tennessee hug. Fantastic finish that rounds out a fantastic rollercoaster of flavors.
Final Thoughts: Let me cut to the chase: this Jack Daniel’s Barrel Proof Single Barrel is one of best ryes I’ve had all year. It takes the incredibly well-balanced Jack Daniel’s Bonded Rye I reviewed earlier this month and cranks everything up to another level. And while these two bottles feel similar, taking it to barrel proof gives so much more spice, heat, complexity, and depth. It’s like the Bonded Rye went to get it’s PHD.
And thankfully, this barrel proof rye isn’t nearly as earthy as some of the Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel Selects (47% ABV) that I’ve previously had. Instead, there’s more of a push and pull between sweet and spicy, with more layers to explore than even their barrel proof single barrel Tennessee whiskey. And while many absolutely love that Tennessee whiskey single barrel at barrel proof, this is even better. It leaves behind some of the banana Laffy Taffy flavors that Brown Forman products are known for and treads new ground in the rye category, cementing Jack Daniel’s as a trailblazer for rye lovers everywhere.
Score: 95
