Whiskey Review: Jack Daniels Tennessee Straight Rye Whiskey
At the end of August, we clued you in on the arrival of a new rye whiskey from Jack Daniels. The brand refers to it as possibly their first new recipe in 150 years, but its not their first foray into rye. Jack Daniels Unaged Rye launched in 2012, then Rested Ryewhich I got to review. It was decent, but pretty young and cherry cola-like. And last year, they released Jack Daniels Single Barrel Rye.
That seems like a lot of rye, but when youre the top-selling whiskey in the U.S., youve got to maintain your status at the top of the pack, yes?
Jack Daniels Tennessee Straight Rye Whiskey is crafted using water from Lynchburgs Cave Spring Hollow, a cave layered in limestone, which removes iron from the water and gives Jack its distinctive taste. It also goes through the Lincoln County Process, which refers to the use of sugar maple charcoal to filter whiskey before its aged in new American Oak barrels. Its mash bill is 70 percent rye, 18 percent corn, and 12 percent malted barley. It doesnt state how long its aged, but its said to be at least five years old.
Lets taste this newbie.
Jack Daniels Rye Whiskey Review And Tasting Notes
In Rye Whiskey, Whisky of the Week
Today I look at another Rye release, Jack Daniels Rye whiskey. What a roller coaster we have had in South Africa with covid and lock down. When SA went into lock down level 5 in March 2020, the sale of alcohol was banned. A whole industry came to a sudden standstill. Three months later, SA moved to lock down level 2 and liquor sales were allowed again. Items stuck in port was permitted entry and wine farms and distilleries started operating again.
South Africas covid figures increased substantially, and then one Sunday evening, the President suddenly banned alcohol sales again. All plans I had to try new drams came to a grinding halt. But the long wait is over, and I can try some new releases again.
Just before lock down, I saw some social media posts about Jack Daniels rye becoming available in SA. But I could not find a bottle at the time. However, now that I can shop again, I found a bottle and I was fortunate to have a chat to Bradley Watson about this release on IGTV.
The Jack Daniels Rye whisky was released in September 2017 as a new addition to the standard Jack Daniels lineup. It is now widely available in South Africa and retails for around R320. Jack Daniels Straight Tennessee Rye is produced using a mash bill of 70% rye,18% corn and 12% malted barley. It follows the same Lincoln County Process that makes Tennessee Whiskey unique. It is a NAS release, and it also has a really good ABV.
Jack Daniel’s Moves Into Rye With Whiskey That Flips Familiar Taste Profile
Jack Daniels Old No. 7 Tennessee Whiskey is like a movie youve watched dozens of times, a well-worn hoodie youve been throwing on during cool weekend days for a decade, like an old friend youve known since college.
Its flavor, full of caramel, vanilla and banana bread notes, is instantly familiar. Thats a reflection of two key elements: charcoal mellowing and a mash bill thats 80 percent corn, 12 percent malted barley and just 8 percent rye.
While rye is present in the mash bill, its subdued, particularly in comparison with similar mainstream bourbons.
Rye has never been a significant part of the Jack Daniels flavor profile, which is what makes the distillery’s major push into the category with Tennessee Rye so interesting. The whiskey, which is a new permanent addition to the distillerys lineup, comes seven years after Jack Daniel’s first distilled its rye mash bill. That mash bill 70 percent rye, 18 percent corn and 12 percent malted barley is the first by Jack Daniel’s to differ from Old No. 7 since Prohibition.
We practically flipped the mash bill on end, says Jeff Arnett, Jack Daniels master distiller.
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Before the permanent release was ready, the distillery released several one-off bottlings featuring that mash bill, including Unaged Rye in 2012, Rested Rye in 2014 and Single Barrel Rye in 2016.
Zak Stambor is a freelance writer.
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Jack Daniels Straight Rye Whiskey
Jack Daniels released the Rye whiskey in September 2017 as a new addition to the standard Jack Daniels lineup. Jack Daniels Straight Tennessee Rye is produced using a mash bill of 70% rye, 18% corn and 12% malted barley. It follows the same Lincoln County Process that makes Tennessee whiskey unique. It is a NAS release, and it also has an excellent ABV.
Jack Daniels Releases First 10
HRVSTROctober 29, 2021, 12:29 pm
For the first time since prohibition, Jack Daniels Tennessee Whiskey will have an age statement on one of its bottles. The famed distillery is releasing a 10-year-old whiskey for the first time in more than a century.
A bottle of Jack Daniels whiskey hasnt carried an age statement since Jack Daniel himself was alive.
The process to create this bottle required a bit of warehouse ingenuity. Select barrels of whiskey were aged for at least seven years on the top floors of the distillerys Lynchburg, Tennessee, warehouses, before being moved to the first floor to finish out their lifespan.
Whiskeys aging is accelerated by hot temperatures, which force more of the liquid into the barrels wooden staves, thereby extracting more flavor. But too much of a good thing can be a bad thing.
Tennessee is a particularly hot climate for whiskey aging, and because upper floors can get to temperatures exceeding 120 degrees in the summer, the whiskey makers worried an entire decade at extremes would make the whiskey too woody, which creates unpleasant astringencylike an over-steeped cup of tea.
Jack Daniels 10-year Courtesy Image
Proofed to a respectable 97 percent, it shows incredible balance, and while we were impressed with a cask strength version during the preview, it has to be said: Fletcher and his team nailed this one.
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Tasting Notes: Jack Daniels Tennessee Straight Rye Whiskey
Vital stats: About $27 90 proof mashbill of 70 percent rye, 18 percent corn, and 12 percent malted barley.
Appearance: Turmeric root polished brass and chunks of buttery, golden, delicious toffee. Mmmm, toffee.
Nose: Its really quite strong I opened the bottle and all at once it came roaring out. I wouldnt call it overpowering, but it did want to make itself known. With many other ryes, I can smell the grain right away, but this isnt like that in the least. Its got a sweet, almost bourbon-y charactermelting Nestle chocolate chips, bananas, milk duds, the mixing bowl after scraping almost all the brownie batter into the pan. But even with such a dessert-like nose, its thankfully not bowling me over.
Palate: Lip-tingly. Warming. Peppery, but a mix of types of pepper: less black pepper, more multicolored peppercorns. Its much drier on the palate than the nose would have you believe. Based on the nose, I would expect a rounder, almost bubble-gummy mouthfeel. This is very dry. The grain comes through on the palate, but its not grainy, if that makes sense.
The longer it sits out, the more I think it could stand on its own. But it might be lonely and I think it would enjoy hanging out with some companionable pals in a cocktail. In fact, hold onIm going to try it in a Manhattan right now.
The Takeaway
I thought I knew Jack but now Im not so sure. Nice job, folks.
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Welcome to Holiday Wine Cellar, where every day is a holiday! Our Escondido, California landmark store, located in North County San Diego, has been family-owned and operated since its conception in 1965 – specializing in import & domestic wines, craft beers, and spirits from around the world. Since 2009, we have made our extensive selection of fine wines, craft beers, and exceptional spirits available online. Customers receive the same white-glove service, selection, & tradition whether visiting our landmark store in-person or from the comfort of a computer, tablet, or phone.
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Eh Taylor Single Barrel Overview
Theres not much to say about Jack Daniels Tennessee Rye Whiskey. Long story short, its Jack Daniels version of rye whiskey, swapping the 80% corn and 8% rye for 70% rye and 18% corn. While it trades the corn-heavy mash from the original Old No. 7 for a lot of rye, it still undergoes maple charcoal filtration for additional smoothness. Lets get into this Jack Daniels rye review to see if its any good.
As an FYI, I bought and use these Glencairn glasses from Amazon for my reviews and comparisons : Glencairn Crystal Whiskey Glass, Set of 6, Clear, 6 Pack. Full transparency, this is an affiliate link, so I may earn a commission if you buy this or something else from Amazon.
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The Differences Between Bourbon Rye And Tennessee Whiskey
While bourbon may reign supreme among American whiskeys, its not the only whiskey made here. In fact, Jack Daniels, the most popular whiskey brand in America, is not a bourbon but a Tennessee whiskey, and most of the classic American whiskey-based cocktails call for rye, not its sweeter cousin bourbon. So whats the difference between these three delicious brown liquids? Check out the infographic below to learn more!
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Review And Tasting Notes For The Jack Daniels Rye Whiskey
ABV: 45%
COLOUR: Light amber
NOSE: Tropical banana, hints of dark chocolate and toasted oak. Cinnamon and sweetness.
PALATE: Freshly baked banana bread, sprinkled with cinnamon sugar. Drying cinnamon and nutmeg with hints of chocolate sweetness. Bits of oily wood and vanilla.
FINISH: Black pepper and spicy cinnamon and oak spices.
RATING: EXCELLENT
The Jack Daniels Rye Tennessee whiskey has a medium body and an oily mouthfeel. The oak spices and cinnamon is captured by the oily wood for a warming finish. Not the most complex whiskey, but very drinkable. It reminds me of a traditional bourbon blended with a shot of grain whisky and a shot of more conventional rye.
It has the tropical fruit notes of grain whisky, balanced with the spicy rye notes with bits of bourbon vanilla and oak. However, it is softer and more refined than more traditional rye releases that I have tried in the past. Delicious and unique.
Bradley mentioned that it would work wonderfully in a boulevardier cocktail and also a bloody Mary. The best food pairing is with steak or with dark chocolate. That is a pairing I can get excited about. If you have not tried this yet, go out and grab a bottle. I did a side by side comparison between the Rye and Old No 7 to see how they differ and you can read it by following the link.
Jack Daniels Tennessee Rye American Whiskey
Jack Daniels Tennessee Rye is a straight Rye whiskey from Jack Daniels, makers of the worlds largest selling American whiskey brand. This is a no-age-statement release from Jack Daniels, with an exceptionally Rye-heavy mash bill.
The Tennessee Rye expression was released recently in 2017, expanding the Jack Daniels range beyond the regular Old No. 7 and other iterations for the first time since Prohibition.
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Bold Spicy And Sippin Smooth
Introducing rye whiskey made Jacks way. Crafted with our 70-percent rye grain bill, natural spring water from our own Cave Spring Hollow, and Jacks time-honored charcoal mellowing process, Jack Daniels Tennessee Rye is a whiskey that could only come from Lynchburg, Tennessee. Master Distiller Jeff Arnett and the whiskey makers of the Jack Daniel Distillery have created a unique rye thats undeniably spicy and complex yet sippin smooth. It might be one of our first new recipes in over 150-years, but if you know Jack, youll know Jack Daniels Tennessee Rye.
70% RYE GRAIN BILL
Place On The Whiskey Shelf
Jack Daniels Rye isnt terrible, but its not particularly good either. Its plain boring, but because its drinkable and not unpleasant, it gets a bottom shelf plus rating. The strangest thing is that high-rye rye whiskeys usually have a lot of mint, anise, and tropical fruits , but theyre all completely lacking here. It just smells and tastes like young, cheap, and watered-down whiskey.
Instead, I strongly suggest that you look for comparably priced and much better rye whiskeys including Old Overholt Bonded, Rittenhouse Rye, Sazerac 6 , and Knob Creek Rye just to name a few. Theres definitely nothing wrong with liking Jack Daniels Rye, but for me, this one is an easy pass.
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Jack Daniels Rye Vs Old No 7 Whiskey Comparison
A few weeks ago, I had the fantastic opportunity to chat to Bradley Watson, the South African Brand Ambassador for Jack Daniels about all things Jack and especially the Jack Daniels Rye whiskey. Even though this release has been around since 2017, it is only now available in SA. As part of our chat, we also did a side-by-side comparison between the Jack Daniels Rye vs Old No 7 whiskey.
These two releases are both produced according to the Lincoln County Process that makes Tennessee whiskey unique. However, the mash bill for the Rye release is different. Jack Daniels whiskey isnt bourbon, despite bearing most of the same characteristics, in production methods at least.
There is, however, one key difference. Jack Daniels filtrates their whiskey through sugar maple charcoal before maturation. This process is of key importance to the finished whiskeys character, bottled as Tennessee whiskey.
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Jasper Newton Jack Daniels started the Jack Daniels distillery around 1866. It is one of the oldest registered distilleries in the United States of America. The distillery remained family-owned until 1956 when it was sold to Brown Forman, a Kentucky distilling company.
Jack Daniels Old No 7
The Old No. 7 is by far the most popular, lucrative and successful Jack Daniels expression. It is the original Jack Daniels, and for many, the one and only. If you go to a bar and simply order a Jack Daniels, you will undoubtedly be served the Old No. 7. The Jack Daniels Distillery refers to their product as Tennessee whiskey, putting it through the Lincoln County Process which gives all Jack Daniels whiskeys a mellow, refined profile.
The Old No. 7 makes for a great sipping whiskey, and adapts equally well with the universally beloved Jack & Coke mix. All that charred oak adds a real smoky character to this whiskey but that isnt everything about the Old No. 7 that stands out. The nose is sweet, slightly smoky and a little spicy with hints of caramel. It is quite smooth owing to the Lincoln County Process, and the sweetness of corn makes an appearance. Smoky caramelized oak, soft cinnamon spice and buttered toast complete a pleasant drinking experience with a sweet, medium finish.
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Jack Daniels Single Barrel Barrel Proof
Sure we know the name sounds a little odd, but believe us when we say the whiskey is fantastic. It could have been easier if Jack Daniels went with Cask Strength instead of Barrel Proof but hey, thats immaterial. Anyway, the Jack Daniels Single Barrel Barrel Proof is bottled just the way it comes out of the barrel, and can pack quite a punch. Since no barrel undergoes maturation in the exact same manner, most bottles of this expression do not carry the same alcohol volume, but range between 60% ABV to 66% ABV.
Cask strength whiskies have really been picking up in popularity in the past decade, and a lot of veterans enjoy bringing the whiskey to a Proof they enjoy. Some even love sipping on it neat just the way it is, and that is a great way to drink whiskey for sure. There is loads of sweet vanilla, toasted oak and spice brought out by this delightfully rich and full-bodied cask strength Tennessee whiskey. The Single Barrel Barrel Proof is also bottled without any chill-filtration, which is an attribute many whiskey purists really prefer.
Jack Daniels Single Barrel 100 Proof
A slightly different iteration of the Jack Daniels Single Barrel Select, this one is bottled at a 100 Proof, like the name suggests. The Single Barrel Select expression is bottled at 90 Proof, and both whiskeys are more or less similar, except for the higher alcohol content. This expression was only released as part of the companys Travel Retail range, but was soon added to their core range.
Also referred to as Bottled in Bond, which requires whiskey makers to follow certain guidelines set by the passing of the Bottled in Bond Act of 1897. This Act required whiskey makers to distil the whiskey in one season, at one distillery by one distiller. The whiskey must also be matured in a federally bonded warehouse for four years, and bottled at 100 Proof . This makes Bottled in Bond whiskeys in America loosely resemble single malt Scotch and Irish whiskeys although not entirely. The Jack Daniels Single Barrel 100 Proof is full-bodied and rich, with a generous helping of caramel, toasted oak and spice.
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Making Process Of Jack Daniels Tennessee Rye
The mash bill for Jack Daniels Tennessee Rye is made up of 70% Rye, 18% Corn and 12% malted Barley. The Rye content is lower than many other Rye whiskeys in the market, but is still quite high.
Jack Daniels typical Lincoln County Process is what really gives this expression a unique identity, retaining the quintessential smoothness and mellow character that Jack Daniels whiskeys are known for. Master Distiller Jeff Arnett has created the Tennessee Rye for Jack Daniels, developing the mash bill for a complex and interesting flavour profile.
The spicy Rye character is complemented well by the sweet touch of Corn, and the mellow smoothness resulting from the sugar maple charcoal filtration is top notch. The whiskey has been matured in new, charred American white Oak barrels. Jack Daniels whiskeys are matured for taste, and not for age. Since the Tennessee Rye qualifies for the straight Rye classification, it has been aged for at least two years.