Jack Daniels Distillery is world famous for their Tennessee Whiskey. Their whiskey is the largest brand of American whiskey in the world with only Johnny Walker selling more bottles of whiskey than Jack Daniels. However, Brown-Forman, the parent company of Jack Daniels, has not sat on their laurels and grown complacent. This product is proof of their innovative approach to their products.
Tennessee Whiskey is traditionally made using a Bourbon mash bill and then mellowing it through maple charcoal before putting it in a new, charred oak barrel. Jack Daniels has changed that with this product and made a rye whiskey with 70% rye and mellowed the whiskey before putting it in a new charred oak barrel. The result is a slightly smoky Tennessee rye whiskey. They have bottled it at 90 proof and used a distinctive cream-colored label to distinguish it from their other products. Now, they have released a 94 proof single barrel version of their Tennessee Rye Whiskey.
Jack Daniels Single Barrel Tennessee Rye Whiskey
Proof: 94
Age: No Age Statement
Nose:
- Mike: Rye grass, corn with a hint of banana fruit, vanilla and smoky oak wood.
- Matt: Rye grass, corn, vanilla and a hint of banana and smoky oak wood.
Taste:
- Mike: Rye grass and lots of banana fruit, smoky oak wood and an herbal note that is mint or menthol with a hint of pepper spice. Tasted with a dried cranberry and the pepper spice is enhanced. Tasted with a pecan and the smoke becomes more of a sweet maple and oak.
- Matt: Vanilla, banana, rye grass and menthol. The dried cranberry added some berry fruit notes. The pecan enhanced the vanilla and sweetened the smoky oak.
Finish:
- Mike: Medium long with smoky oak wood and lingering mint or menthol. The dried cranberry made the finish shorter and sweeter with some lingering fruit notes. The pecan made the finish very long with lots of smoky oak wood and a little pepper spice.
- Matt: Long with white pepper, menthol, and smoky oak wood. The dried cranberry enhanced the pepper notes making it more of a black pepper. The pecan brought back the white pepper notes and made the finish drier.
I would pair this whiskey with a cigar with lots of leather and cedar spice in the smoke. I think I would reach for a Don Pepin Garcia cigar and relax on the porch on a summer afternoon with a glass of Jack Daniels Single Barrel Tennessee Rye on the rocks. A great evening of leisure.
Photos Courtesy of Rosemary Miller