Jack Daniel's Single Barrel Barrel Proof Rye (2023 Release)

A lot of i terstong flavors. Banana for one carmel and vanilla but with a rye twist. Big fan.

Sweet rye: banana bread This is a bright and complex whiskey. The finish is only medium long, but you are getting many flavors. Sweet caramel immediately becomes a red hot and then fades.

134.6. That's the proof. That's a real proof there. That one. I think the highest proof rye I've ever had before this was 132 with Alberta Premium Cask Strength. And I love the Alberta. I like this more. Yes, I have tasted them side-by-side, and as has been noted, the 100% Rye of Alberta may give it less dimensionality than when you mix up the mash bill. When you taste them next to each other, you realize just how robust the JD is. It's full of flavor. Rounded. More complex. I should note that usually I only do one tasting a night. Tonight I've done three. Heading into Dry July, I'm trying to review all the bottles I have open that are right next door to done. So I missed out on the Barrel Proof Rye JD released during COVID. The special release. They get like 10 bottles for the whole state of Pennsylvania, sell them at SRP but you know, there's like 12 million people in PA. A lot are children. But a lot are adults and whisky drinkers. In other words, you're winning the lotto if you're getting a special release bottle. Which is why it warmed my heart that they were releasing a standard Single Barrel Barrel Proof Rye at $75. I picked up this one, opened it, loved it, went out and bought a second for posterity. Old age. When whiskies are just too expensive to buy anymore. When only the 1% can afford them. So the actual whisky here is great. One of the best ryes I've ever had, and I've had a lot of good ones. I mean, I love rye, more than bourbon, less than scotch. In between zone. The nose on this is candied, fruity, I sort of get a skittles vibe, taste the rainbow of fruit flavors. There is JD's signature banana, but there's also cherry red, and orange and lemon lime. It's kind of crazy to me why it's got this aroma, this is a rye, right? I've never even had a bourbon with such a sweet profile. This is pure desert whisky in a lot of ways. The palate has this crazy thing where it kind of tastes like, well, you ever get one of those swirling lollipops at the zoo that are...well, I've already mentioned it, a rainbow. All the colors. And the flavor isn't real fruit, it is artificial. Honestly, because of that, I could see this whisky turning some people off. The finish is long and that's the first place you get anything different from fruit flavors, a little added spice. I don't know. I have to be honest. I'm not always in the mood for this, so this bottle has lasted a lot longer than bottles usually last for me. I bought it and cracked it in late-January. I'm not one to open all my bottles and leave them for when I'm in the mood. I usually have a bottle of bourbon, a bottle of rye, a bottle of scotch and a bottle of Irish open and when I finish one, I crack another of that variety. The fact that I opened this in January and it's lasted until now is kind of a record for me. But this is my last pour. And I'm enjoying it. But I'm also not fretting. I have another in the basement shelving unit where I keep my whiskies. But I'll likely give it a few years. And if they release another batch this year, I'm all in. Love this stuff. Though I have to say their standard Single Barrel Barrel Proof is also amazing. Solid whisky through and through.