A little background

The 2020 Jack Daniels Single Barrel Special Release Rye Whiskey was created by master distiller Jeff Arnett as a tribute to a time where American whiskey was often high in rye content. The special release rye is aged in the highest reaches of barrel house #1-02 and bottled straight from the barrel uncut and at full proof. This whiskey is made from a mash bill of 70% Rye, 18% Corn, and 4% Malted Barley. This review was of Bottle Number is BPR-23479, which came from Barrel #20-06881. Jack Daniels Single Barrel Special Release Rye Whiskey is bottled at 130.5 Proof and has a MSRP of $65 USD.

(Tasted neat from a Glencairn Glass)

Color

Mahogany

Nose

Subtle citrus rye spice tingling the nostrils. Sweet mint comes through with tons of brown sugar. Virtually no ethanol on the nose.

Palate

Creamy and thick viscosity that floods the entire palate. Brown sugar and a rush of sweetness up front with cool mint and rye hitting the mid palate to cut the sweetness. The cool mint carries to the back palate carrying over to the finish.

Finish

Refreshing coolness from the mint with rye spice giving your tongue a pop rocks feeling through the finish. Light char and a low heat that is not typical from such a high proof whiskey. Brown sugar comes back on the aftertaste with citrus aromas that really get your salivary glands thinking about that next sip.

In closing

Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel Special Release Barrel Proof Rye is such a wonderful expression that you would be hard pressed to find anyone saying they didn’t love it. The high proof only comes in through powerful flavors with little to no ethanol on the nose and the finish is subtle and light you forget its 130 proof. The nose is absolutely captivating with sweet mint and brown sugar that makes you want to immediately begin sipping. The journey only continues to get better as the palate is flooded with flavor and a thick viscosity that is loaded with flavor from the rye. The only drawback about this bottle is that there is limited quantity, high demand, and only released to certain areas in the United States. I would absolutely recommend picking up a bottle of Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel Special Release Barrel Proof Rye if the opportunity present itself.