Jack Daniel’s Just Dropped Its New Distillery Series Rye Whiskey
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Over the past few years, Jack Daniel’s has proven to whiskey fans that there’s a lot more going on at the the distillery than Old No. 7, with the release of new age-statement expressions, American single malt, some extreme hazmat whiskeys, and distillery-exclusive releases that veer toward the experimental side. The latest in that last category is the new edition of the Distillery Series, a rye whiskey finished in table syrup barrels that, despite that secondary maturation, is not overly sweet.
This release, which was the brain child of Jack Daniel’s barrel maturation manager and master taster Byron Copeland, is the sixteenth in the Distillery Series to date. The whiskey is made from the same mashbill as other rye whiskeys produced at the Lynchburg, Tenn., distillery: 70 percent rye, 18 percent corn, and 12 percent malted barley. After aging for about five years, it was put into table syrup barrels for an additional three years. For those of you who might not be familiar with table syrup, it’s an alternative to maple syrup that is used for pancakes and waffles and often made from cane sugar or corn syrup. In this case, the table syrup was made from corn syrup, cane sugar syrup, cane molasses, and pure honey. The syrup was initially poured into used Jack Daniel’s rye whiskey barrels while it was still hot to age for a period of time. Then these barrels were returned to the distillery to use for this secondary maturation, infusing the rye whiskey with sweet but not saccharine flavors while they matured in the upper levels of one of the warehouses.
“The Jack Daniel’s Distillery Series is all about exploring new ideas, and the complex nature of our Tennessee Rye Whiskey makes a great canvas for experimentation,” said Copeland in a statement. “Thanks to what we can do with our barrels, the finish adds a sweetness and depth that’s completely unique but unmistakably Jack.” There is indeed a sweetness to the whiskey, but it is far from overpowering, which is a good thing. There are notes of cherry, grape, sweet pecan, maple, honey, and cotton candy as you sip, but the spice of the rye cuts through as well. It’s bottled at 111.4 proof.
Like other Distillery Series releases from Jack, this is only available at the distillery and select Tennessee retailers in small 375 ml bottles (SRP $45). You can find the rest of the Jack Daniel’s portfolio available at websites like ReserveBar now as well.
