Jack Daniel's Tennessee Rye is a rye whiskey from the distillery in Lynchburg, Tennessee, built around a rye-forward mash bill. Jack Daniel's Tennessee Rye is a straight rye whiskey combining the pronounced flavour of rye grain with the signature mellow Jack Daniel's profile, based on a mash bill of 70 percent rye, 18 percent corn and 12 percent malted barley. Introduced in 2017, it is made from the first new Jack Daniel's mash bill since 1866.
The Jack Daniel distillery belongs to the Brown-Forman corporation. The plant was founded in 1866 and is located at 182 Lynchburg Highway in Lynchburg, Tennessee. What sets this whiskey apart from classic rye counterparts from Kentucky is the production process typical of Tennessee. This straight Tennessee Rye undergoes the standard charcoal mellowing process before being filled into barrels, in accordance with the requirements for Tennessee whiskey; the mash bill consists of 70 percent rye, 18 percent corn and 12 percent malted barley, and the spirit carries no age statement and is bottled at 45%. Spring water from the distillery's own Cave Spring Hollow source is used in production.
As for the aromatic profile, the producer points to a mellow, multi-layered composition. The spirit is mellowed through sugar maple charcoal, and the result is an expressive, spicy rye whiskey with a soft finish; the profile reveals sweet caramel and dry baking spice, with the peppery character of rye in the background, while the delicate aroma combines sweet fruit with spicy rye and oak. Industry editorial notes expand on this picture: the colour is a deep golden amber, the nose offers roasted corn, toasted oak and vanilla fudge with caramel, cinnamon, black pepper and banana, while on the palate the spirit is medium-bodied, dry and moderately spicy, with toffee, vanilla fudge, cinnamon and toasted oak. The banana note characteristic of the brand recurs in many reviews.
Bottled at 45%, this rye works well both neat and in cocktails. It is a balanced rye whiskey that can be served on the rocks or as a cocktail ingredient, available in all 50 states. The producer recommends it for classics such as the Sazerac or the Old Fashioned.