A little background
Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel Special Release Tanyard Hill Rye is a barrel-proof Tennessee rye whiskey drawn from Barrel House 1 atop Tanyard Hill, one of the distillery’s oldest maturation sites built in the early 1960s and located adjacent to the renowned Coy Hill in Lynchburg, Tennessee. This expression follows the distillery’s classic Tennessee rye mash bill of 70% rye, 18% corn, and 12% malted barley, with the whiskey entering new handmade American white oak barrels in November 2015 and undergoing charcoal mellowing before maturation. Bottled at cask strength ranging from 130.2 to 148.8 proof (65.10% to 74.40% ABV), it captures the unique climate influences of the hollow, resulting in a robust, site-specific profile emblematic of Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel Special Release series. The sample reviewed here is bottled at 145.9 proof (72.95% ALC/VOL).
Founded in 1866 and recognized as the first registered distillery in the United States, the Jack Daniel Distillery in Lynchburg, Tennessee, holds a place on the National Register of Historic Places and continues to produce iconic whiskeys like Old No. 7 Tennessee Whiskey and Single Barrel Tennessee Whiskey. As a global leader enjoyed in over 170 countries, Jack Daniel’s upholds its legacy of craftsmanship through limited releases like the Tanyard Hill Rye, available in 700mL bottles at a suggested retail price of $79.99.
(Tasted neat from a Glencairn Glass)
Color
Burnt Umber
Nose
Cherry, banana, dark chocolate, cinnamon, raisin, and rye spice.
Palate
Rye spice, cherry, cocoa, baking spice (cinnamon, clove, and nutmeg), molasses, and charred oak.
Finish
Clove, leather, brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, rye spice, and dry oak.
In closing
Jack Daniel’s Tanyard Hill Special Release Single Barrel Rye is an impressive showcase of the distillery’s mastery with rye whiskey, balancing raw power with layered complexity. At 145.9 proof, it delivers a bold and explosive flavor experience packed with rye spice, cherry, cocoa, and baking spices, yet remains surprisingly approachable for its strength. The long, rich finish lingers with clove, leather, and brown sugar, leaving a lasting impression that rewards slow sipping. While the high proof and drying oak may challenge some palates, and bottles will likely be scarce, this release offers remarkable depth, intensity, and value at its $80 price point, particularly for those lucky enough to find one in the hazmat range.
Jack Daniel’s Tanyard Hill Special Release Single Barrel Rye
The Good
- Hazmat proof and still enjoyable
- Complexity
- Incredible flavor
The Bad
- Availability (especially Hazmat)
- Proof could obviously be a bit much for some
