For the first time in 100 years, the Jack Daniel’s Distillery is unveiling a new grain recipe. Released in February of this year, Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel Rye is the third marque in the Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel Collection. With only 800 barrels available, though, rye fans will need to act quickly to get their hands on this new spirit.
Made from 70% rye, 18% corn, and 12% malted barley, and weighing in at 94-proof, Single Barrel Rye is the third rye released by Jack Daniels—in 2012 and 2014 they released an ‘Un-aged Rye’ and a ‘Rested Rye’, respectively. As the third offering in the Single Barrel expression, Single Barrel Rye follows in the tracks of Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel Select and Barrel Proof.
In crafting Single Barrel Rye, the distillers at Jack Daniel’s wanted something that not only spoke to the rich history of rye in the country, but also their signature take on distilling through their Tennessee whiskey-making process, which features the same cave spring water from the Jack Daniel’s Hollow, proprietary yeast and charcoal-mellowing process that’s been used in the distillery’s 150-year-old Tennessee Whiskey recipe.
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“There is a reemerging trend of rye whiskeys and we are excited to be able to give friends of Jack Daniel’s a chance to experience it,” said Jeff Arnett, Jack Daniel’s Master Distiller. “You never want to over-barrel a rye whiskey so it was important for us to stay true to the style with grain forward character rather than barrel character while still allowing our barrels to interplay with the whiskey. I’m confident that everyone will be as impressed as I am with the taste and character of this bold new rye offering.”
Talking about the rye is all well and good, but how it tastes is what really matters. Single Barrel Rye starts off lightly sweet opening up to notes of dried fruit and a little nuttiness. The finish is shorter than previous Single Barrel collection offerings, pushing more of the grain character than that of the barrel.
Jack Daniels Single Barrel Rye is available nationwide and retails for approximately $50.
