Jack Daniel's Single Barrel Barrel Proof Rye (2023 Release)

134.6. That's the alcohol content. That's a serious proof. This is possibly the highest proof rye I've ever had, surpassing the 132 proof of Alberta Premium Cask Strength. And I enjoy the Alberta. I prefer this one, though. I have tasted them side-by-side, and as others have mentioned, the 100% rye mash bill of Alberta might make it less complex compared to a mixed mash bill. Tasting them together highlights how robust this Jack Daniel's is. It's packed with flavor. Well-rounded. More intricate. I should mention that I typically only do one tasting per night. Tonight, I've done three. As I head into Dry July, I'm trying to review all the bottles I have open that are nearly finished. So I missed out on the Barrel Proof Rye Jack Daniel's released during the pandemic. That special release. They only get about 10 bottles for the entire state of Pennsylvania, sold at the suggested retail price, but you know, there are about 12 million people in PA. Many are children. But many are adults and whiskey enthusiasts. In other words, getting a special release bottle is like winning the lottery. Which is why I was pleased they were releasing a standard Single Barrel Barrel Proof Rye for $75. I bought one, opened it, loved it, and then bought a second one for safekeeping. For old times' sake. When whiskies become prohibitively expensive. When only the wealthiest can afford them. So, the whisky itself is excellent. It's one of the finest ryes I've ever tasted, and I've had many excellent ones. I truly love rye, more than bourbon, but less than scotch. It's in the middle category for me. The aroma on this is sweet and fruity, almost like Skittles; I get a rainbow of fruit flavors. It has Jack Daniel's signature banana note, but also cherry red, orange, and lemon-lime. It's quite surprising to me that it has this aroma, considering it's a rye, right? I've never even encountered a bourbon with such a sweet profile. This is essentially a dessert whisky in many respects. The palate has this fascinating quality where it tastes like, well, you know those swirled lollipops from the zoo that are... well, I've already mentioned it, a rainbow. All the colors. And the flavor isn't real fruit; it's artificial. Honestly, because of that, this whisky might not appeal to everyone. The finish is long, and that's where you first detect something other than fruit flavors, a bit of added spice. I'm not always in the mood for this, so this bottle has lasted much longer than my bottles typically do. I purchased it and opened it in late January. I don't usually open all my bottles at once and save them for specific moods. I typically have a bottle of bourbon, a bottle of rye, a bottle of scotch, and a bottle of Irish whiskey open, and when I finish one, I open another of that type. The fact that I opened this in January and it's still here now is a personal record. But this is my last pour. And I'm enjoying it. However, I'm not worried. I have another bottle in the basement storage unit where I keep my whiskies. But I'll probably let it age for a few years. And if they release another batch this year, I'm definitely buying it. I love this stuff. Although I have to say, their standard Single Barrel Barrel Proof is also amazing. A consistently solid whisky.

The aroma is packed and full, beginning with whipped cream over pecan pie, cooked apples, and sugared fennel seeds. It continues with fresh pumpernickel bread and dark chocolate-coated espresso beans, then banana pudding, cherry pie, and powdered sugar bubble gum. This shifts to spearmint, recently varnished wood furniture, and pipe tobacco, with a strong alcohol sting. The palate has a thick, rich texture, starting with recently varnished wood furniture, cooked apples, and spearmint gum. A medium spice follows, gradually softening to pecan pie, burnt pumpernickel bread, and rich dark chocolate mocha. Then comes bananas foster, maraschino cherries, and powdered sugar bubble gum, transitioning to cloves, ginger, and freshly lit pipe tobacco, with a strong alcohol sting. The finish is lengthy, commencing with a light spice that quickly yields to banana pudding, burnt pumpernickel bread, and toasted marshmallow. It proceeds with dark chocolate-covered roasted peanuts, spearmint, recently varnished wood furniture, and pipe tobacco. This is an exceptional rye; the tastes are powerful, striking, and abundant, achieving an amazing equilibrium of sweet, creamy fruits. These are complemented by moderate rye spices and well-matured oak characteristics. It has a slight young tartness but is otherwise a superb rye that could readily compete with and stand up to some of the top ryes currently available. For $70, this is a fantastic bargain, in my opinion, and something that fans of high-proof rye will find very pleasing.

JDSBBP Rye 134.1 Proof 67.05% Bottling Date 12-7-23 Barrel 23-10522 Barrel house 1-09 Nose: A blend of dark and red fruits. Each time I bring my nose to the glass, a different fruit profile emerges. Sometimes it's plums, dates, raisins; other times strawberries and raspberries come through. Then there are notes of brown sugar and raisin bread. Occasionally, I detect a blueberry cotton candy aroma – very odd, but I really like it! The alcohol is also well-concealed, making this a potentially dangerous pour. Taste: Oh my... it mirrors the nose but with a bit more rye character in the form of a bubblegum note on the finish. The alcohol presence is very restrained here. The warmth is mild considering the proof. I'm definitely going to get wasted with this one... I'll probably wake up on the couch tonight with corn chip crumbs all over my shirt and a half-eaten bag of Reese's peanut butter cups beside me, wrappers strewn on the floor. Overall: This is outstanding. I reviewed a SBBP Rye last year that was much lower in proof, and it was a complete mess. This bottle, however, is tremendous. It's not overly complicated but is full of flavor with a long-lasting finish. A must-buy if you enjoy high ABV spirits. I'd pay up to $90 for it.

134.4 proof. I diluted this slightly, as I typically do with spirits over 130 proof. Bold aromas of cinnamon roll, banana bread, white pepper, lemon zest, maple, and a faint hint of charcoal. It's an unusual aroma for a rye, but I enjoyed it. The ethanol is remarkably subdued for the proof (the water may have helped). The palate is complex; butterscotch, rye, black pepper, baking spices (cinnamon, clove), tobacco, chocolate, and green apple. It's INTENSE. The spice feels hot throughout. The finish is exceptionally long with much more spice/heat, cherry, fennel, wintergreen, barrel char, burnt caramel sugars, leather, and a trace of anise. The texture is oily but has a fair amount of graininess and dryness; it could have been smoother given the flavor intensity. So, it's robust, flavorful, and complex, but also somewhat wild, unrefined, and unfocused. It certainly lacks the characteristics I would associate with or seek in a top-tier rye. I'm aware many adore this expression, but it just didn't come together for me. At the $74.99 I paid, it's difficult to call it overpriced in today's market, but there are many bottles I'd prefer at a similar price, so it's not a repurchase.

Nose: The aroma offers rich maple syrup, freshly ground cloves, and oak. There's also a hint of chewy nougat in the background. Palate: Upon the first sip, I taste candied orange and dark chocolate, which then transitions to molasses and the maple syrup detected in the nose. Finish: It lingers with a pleasant warm orange candy finish, complemented by a drizzle of dark chocolate and spice. There's a slight waxiness towards the end that I'm undecided about, similar to those waxy tube candies with liquid centers. It's not excessively sweet, but it fades into another distinct layer. Overall: This is a resounding success! I enjoyed it much more than the 2020 Special Release. It's a high-quality, rich, deliciously layered rye throughout. Adding water helps reveal some of the concentrated flavors, but it holds up well straight from the bottle for those who enjoy high proof. I preferred it with 3 drops to slightly reduce the heat and allow for better separation of flavors, but it's a matter of preference. This is NAS, but sources suggest these barrels are between 7-8 years old. If you can find it, this is an exceptional offering.

This specific barrel was bottled in August 2023. The proof is 131.6, which is 65.8% ABV. On the nose: banana bread, cinnamon, apple, vanilla, bubble gum. It strongly resembles the barrel proof Tennessee whiskey, perhaps just slightly spicier. The palate is very similar to the nose. There's a subtle savory note that I'm sure comes from the rye. It has a considerable burn going down. It might be better with some water or an ice cube. I was happy to find this at a fair price and am satisfied with the bottle, but I also anticipated a bit more, given all the hype surrounding the 2020 special release. I'm also tasting this after the ECBP C923, which is an exceptionally good whiskey, and this doesn't quite measure up. It feels quite similar to the barrel proof Tennessee whiskey with a bit more spice. I do prefer the rye between the two, as I appreciate the added complexity from the rye. Overall, a very good bottle, but not one I'd consider worth a premium on the secondary market or going significantly out of your way to find.