Jack Daniel's Single Barrel Rye

Barrel No. 21-00900; Rick L-23; Bottled 01-22-21 Pick by Bull City Bourbon Club; Named "Nanner Puddin" Open 2 months Nose - Banana pudding topped with vanilla wafers, brown sugar, cinnamon, Big League Chew, jammy fruits, and notable ethanol (or is that just rye and oak spice?). Palate - Liquified vanilla wafer, banana Runt candy, medicinal cherry, baking spices, browned butter with added brown sugar and caramel, Honey Nut Cheerios, and a decent amount of oak tannins. Finish is medium-short with lingering artificial banana and vanilla, hints of sweet baking spices, and a back end of dry oak. This is a pick from my local bourbon group. The nose is straight vanilla wafer, not sure I've had another whiskey with this strong of an artificial banana/vanilla flavor. It's the type of profile I love, but it's not nuanced or layered enough, likely due to proof. The palate is simpler, there isn't much depth of flavor outside of that banana/vanilla combination. It's really nice for what it is, but it disappoints when compared to the Jack Daniel's Single Barrel Barrel Proof whiskey and rye. Because Jack Daniel's already charges a premium ($50-60) for their 94 proof single barrels, I wish they would change that to bottled-in-bond single barrels to justify the expense. I think it would be a better product, and still be markedly different from their extremely high proof single barrel barrel proofs. As it stands, I won't buy a 94 proof single barrel again that's only $15 less than the barrel proof, unless it's a club pick of course.

Whew…those JD banana notes with the burst of rye sweetness is GOOD. A lot of power here, not so much in proof but just sheer flavor.

(Good Spirits Co. Glasgow – Virtual American Whiskey Tasting, 3rd July 2021). Nose: Hairspray, acetone, very sweet, lemon/lime, washing-up liquid Palate: Soft, citrus, oak tannins, banana foam sweets Finish: Long finish. Leather, oak, vanilla, liquorice 70% Rye 18% Corn 12% Barley Very sweet (more fruit/vanilla sweet than sugar/caramel). Not as much spice as you’d expect from a rye. It’s very gentle and approachable. Nicely integrated flavours, but has a watered down mouthfeel. Just OK. The UK issue has a slightly lower 45% ABV than the standard 47% in the US. Came joint last out of the six drams, with 0% (0 votes) of the final vote for favourite of the night. 62% (8 votes) of those present said they enjoyed the whiskey.