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Jack Daniel's - Bottled In Bond Rye
Price: $48.99
| Producer | Jack Daniel's |
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| Country | United States |
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| Region | Tennessee |
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| Subregion | Lynchburg |
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| Style | Rye |
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| Sku | 05773 |
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Jack Daniel's Description
The Jack Daniel Distillery first began distilling rye in February, 2011. Bonded Rye is the first rye whiskey from the Jack Daniel Distillery with the Bottled-in-Bond designation, though it shares the same mashbill and yeast strain as other rye whiskeys in the brand’s portfolio. After distillation, Jack Daniel’s Bonded Rye undergoes what is referred to as the “Lincoln County Process,” which involves passing the distillate through charcoal that was made by burning maple wood that had been impregnated with 140 proof Jack Daniel’s whiskey. Notably, Jack Daniel’s experimented with various amounts of charcoal filtering, and unlike their Tennessee Whiskey they discovered that less charcoal filtering is ideal for rye, and as a result the distillate passes through only 3 feet of maple charcoal versus the standard 10 feet used for their Tennessee Whiskey. The maple charcoal filtered distillate is then aged in new charred American white oak barrels and aged for a minimum of 4 years, though according to our talks with master distiller Chris Fletcher, this inaugural release of Bonded Rye was distilled in the Spring 2016 distilling season, making it 7 years old. While the age for future releases is unknown, Fletcher noted that it will likely be around 7 years, give or take, given the flavor profile expected to develop around that time.
Peppery spice mixes with crisp fruit scents of pear, apple, and green grapes to form an initial impression that leans a little more towards fruit than it does spice. Inhaling deeper brings out a candy-like sweet note that’s hard to pinpoint, but is akin to maple sugar candy. The potency of the aroma is light compared to the rest of the sip, but enjoyable nonetheless.
It takes only a first impression to realize this whiskey is unlike most other ryes. Bold rye spice meets fresh mint leaves up front. Waves of barrel char, black pepper, and cinnamon follow. Hints of maple sugar candy and molasses add a sweet note. All of these flavors rest on an unusually rich earthy base that is ultimately the principal factor contributing to the whiskey’s uniqueness, though not the only one. It’s somewhat shocking at first due to how untraditional it is, and takes some time with the whiskey to fully appreciate what it has to offer.
The whiskey’s earthy undertone continues into the finish along with persistent rye spice. Sweeter flavors of vanilla custard and burnt brown sugar emerge, transitioning the finish from spicy to sweet as it breaks down on your palate. It’s a great ending to an impressive and memorable sip.
