SHORT TAKE: Jack Daniels Single Barrel Rye

Rye always goes in a Denver and Liely whisky glass.

Please note- this is a single-barrel your mileage and experience may vary.

My pal Bryan shared this new Jack Daniel’s Barrel Proof Rye single barrel and I was excited to try it because I had some very very high hopes.

You see, I miss the delightful limited editions that were released a few years ago, and was hoping this would be an adequate substitute.

I spent a good hour with it, and in preparation for the experience, I rested it 20 minutes before even nosing it, and here’s my take- it’s overproofed.

I’m no stranger to so-called HAZMAT releases, hell, Barrell did the “Honey Badger Canadian Rye at 148.3 after all, and I think that unlike Honey Badger, or even Jack’s own Coy Hill, this release is very hard to enjoy at 140.9.

Is it bad? No of course it isn’t.

In my view, it needs water and quite a bit of it to take that really hot dry edge off of it.

How hot is it? So hot that nothing about this struck me as a “Rye” at all. This was just hot whiskey and didn’t have the complexities I experienced in their limited releases several years ago. It’s not dreadful mind you, but the Tennessee Tasters’ editions have a lot going on often at far less proof, and this one particular single-barrel does not.

If I had a my own bottle I would play with this and proof meter it and find out where it should be for my palate, but I don’t so I can’t. I do expect that others will drop some water and see what happens, there are plenty of fellow insaniacs that will play around with these for sure.

I know that these will initially disappear from shelves and quickly, because you know the Jack Rye Hype. The limiteds were universally loved, and coveted to this day on secondary sites, so this has to be the same thing right? MUST BUY ALL!!! Only no, they aren’t the same, but each can exist in their own way.

I plan on seeking out some samples of other single barrels of this release to try, but based upon my first impression, I’ll likely sit this hype cycle out.

In closing, I see this is an example of where the proof hounds will be happy on paper, but they might not love this as is. They might though, and that’s what the comments section is all about.

What’s your take?

- Mickey Pinstripe