Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Tasters’ Selection Barrel Proof Rye
In my review of Port Askaig 10th Anniversary last week, I mentioned that if I had given out whisky awards for 2020, there’s a good chance I would have named that Port Askaig as my single malt of the year. Today I’m continuing the same theme by reviewing what I would consider to be my rye whiskey of the year (and for that matter, perhaps my American whiskey of the year, period)—Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Tasters’ Barrel Proof Rye.
Like the aforementioned Port Askaig, Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Tasters’ Barrel Proof Rye was actually released in 2019, not 2020. By the way, the name of this whiskey really is a mouthful, isn’t it? And I even left out a word—it’s actually Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Tasters’ Selection Barrel Proof Rye. I think I’ll abbreviate it from here on out—JDTTSBPR… eh, still a mouthful. Anyhow, when it was released, it sat seemingly unnoticed on shelves until sometime late in 2020, when suddenly it started generating some hype. After several friends started raving about it, I grabbed a couple bottles before they were completely sold out near me. I’m glad I did.
Jack Daniel’s, of course, needs no introduction. It’s one of the most famous and best selling whiskeys in the world. The very first bottle of whiskey I ever bought was Jack Daniel’s Old No. 7, and I imagine that many whiskey fans in the US (and all over the world, for that matter) can say the same thing. For some very casual whiskey drinkers, it may be the only bottle they ever buy.
Most JD is, well, JD. If you’re drinking it neat, it’s probably not going to wow you. It’s an overly sweet, simple type of whiskey best served in a highball. That fact, however, doesn’t mean Jack Daniel’s is incapable of making good whiskey. Anyone who’s tried a bottle of Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel Barrel Proof (another rather ridiculous name), Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel Heritage Barrel, or Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel Special Release Barrel Proof Rye (seriously, these names…) knows that the distillery can produce high quality whiskey.
I used to be skeptical about any JD. Sure I appreciated Jack for what it is. I’ve been to the distillery. Taken the tour. Several times, in fact. But still… it’s Jack Daniel’s, the stuff you mix with Coke. Now, after having tried a bunch of these single barrels and barrel proofs, I’m a believer. Yes, most Jack kinda sucks, but damn, when they want to, the most famous distillery in Tennessee is perfectly capable of making some world class whiskey.
The Tennessee Tasters’ Selection series is Jack Daniel’s experimental line of small releases. They are only sold at the distillery itself and at select liquor stores in Tennessee. So basically, they are distillery exclusives, with the bonus of being available throughout the state. There have been a number of these Tennessee Tasters’ Selctions released over the last few years, including things like a red wine finished whiskey and a hickory smoked whiskey, amongst others. I’ve tried one of two of them before this rye and wasn’t overly impressed, but that could be simply because I’m not usually a fan of bourbon or rye whiskey that’s been finished in wine casks or other experimental types of maturation. But a barrel proof straight rye? Sign me up.
According to the label, JDTTSBPR (I really don’t think that abbreviation is going to catch on, but I’m going with it anyway) was distilled from a mashbill of 70% rye, 18% corn, & 12% malted barley, matured at “the highest reaches of barrel house #1-05,” and bottled at its final barrel proof of 127.6 (63.8% ABV). Aging at the uppermost levels of a rickhouse generally means the whiskey matures a bit more quickly than barrels aging on lower levels, as the extra heat from elevation causes faster evaporation and higher proof. No doubt that plays a part in the flavor profile of this rye. There’s no age statement on the bottle, but JD first started making rye whiskey in 2012, so it can’t be older than about seven years, and it very well may be younger (although it doesn’t taste young at all).
Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Tasters’ Selection Barrel Proof Rye Review
Type: Straight Rye Whiskey
Region: Tennessee
Age: NAS
ABV: 63.8%
Nose
Peppermint candy, like the white semisoft kind that restaurants serve after the meal. Butterscotch. Black pepper. Stacks of hay. Dry oak. Leather. Sitting in an old wood cabin in winter with the fireplace burning on the far side of the room. After adding water and letting it sit for a few minutes, the sweetness really comes out in a wonderful way. An altogether fantastic nose.
Palate
Huge blast of sweet rye spice up front. Lots of mint. Thin Mint cookies. Very dark caramel. Allspice. A touch of sage. Spicy vanilla. Anise. Leather and oak. Water and oxidation turns the dark caramel into luscious, creamy butterscotch and adds toasted marshmallow. A little bit floral, with a delightful touch of lavender syrup (a note I often find in single malt scotch, but rarely in American whiskey). Bold, yet with a nice amount of complexity and surprising nuance. The texture is incredibly oily and viscous. Wonderful.
Finish
Long and spicy. More mint, here turning to mint Tic Tacs. Burnt caramel. Candy cane. Black licorice. Rye bread. Sage. Lavender. Simple syrup. Sweet cinnamon.
Overall
Wow, this is not what most people would think of when they think of Jack Daniel’s. Complex and delicious with a terrific texture, this is quite easily the best JD product I’ve ever tried. For that matter, it’s one of the best rye whiskeys I’ve ever tried.
I absolutely love the combination of flavors on the palate. The rye spice combined with such a delicious caramel/butterscotch is already a winner, but then you add in the lavender syrup and toasted marshmallow… I just love those flavors together. And then you have the wonderful texture and a long, complex finish, not to mention the nose, which might be even better than the palate—this is so damn good.
SCORE: 9/10
Final Thoughts
If you’re one of those whiskey fans (as I once was) who assumes that all Jack Daniel’s products are simple, mass-produced drams not worth drinking when compared to the Kentucky bourbon makers and other top American distilleries, I think this rye will surprise you. It’s truly a world class whiskey. I’ve done side-by-sides of JDTTSBPR (maybe JDTTRye is better? JackTTRye?) with some other top bottles of rye, including Thomas H. Handy and Lot 40 12 Year Cask Strength (both great bottles), and the Jack not only is capable of hanging in there with those heavy hitters, but is arguably better. OK, it’s not quite as good as that wonderful Lot 40 (a bottle I’ll get around to reviewing one of these days), but it’s damn close.
Buying Advice: The Tennessee Tasters’ Selection series is only available in the state of Tennessee, so it’s not an easy bottle to find for most people. And even here in Tennessee, it’s mostly sold out at this point (at least it seems to be in the Nashville area). But if you do see this bottle on the shelf somewhere, I highly recommend it. Note that like all of the Tennessee Tasters’ Selection series, it is only available in 375ml bottles and retails for around $40.
Questions about my scoring system? Refer to the Review Method & Scoring Scale page.
For more reviews, check out the Whiskey Review Archive.
