Jack Daniel's Tennessee Straight Rye

As light as Jameson but more flavor

A little thin, a little over-sweet, but I don't want to like this (since JD is overhyped and overexposed) and I do, which must bump this up a few points.

A 90 proof, peppery version of old number seven. You still get the maple and banana notes. It only cost me 23 bucks and it came with two rocks glasses. This one’s a winner.

I haven’t had a lot of Jack Daniel’s stuff, but I have had a lot of rye, so I know what I like and I know what I don’t. I like this. At least enough to buy it again for $20. At this price point, its main competitors are George Pickle Rye, Bulleit Rye, Old Overcoat and Beam Rye. JD rye (which is around 70% rye) holds up well enough against these competitors because it offers something slightly unique when compared to the dilly-dill, spicy-spice nature of MGP-sourced ryes and the sweet, corn-forward flavor of barely-legal ryes. The nose is ticklish, flirty and peanutty. It reminds me of Evan Williams BiB with a bit more spice. It has a decent amount of depth to it, but not enough to really impress me. The flavor is pretty straightforward and satisfying. It tastes like rye whiskey. I don’t really know what else to say. I guess I’ll throw in some bonus adjectives like “medium-bodied, grassy, warm and floral”. Those seem appropriate enough. The mouthfeel is kind of thin, but that’s understandable given that this whiskey is charcoal-mellowed. The flavors translate into a short and sweet finish with just a touch of bitterness. This whiskey is good enough to enjoy on its own, but I prefer it in an old fashioned because I’m a classy old bugger and I like cheap booze that tastes good. If you want immense complexity, look elsewhere, but if you want straightforward and unobtrusive flavors at a great price, this is the donkey water for you!