Rye whiskey has been enjoying something of a renaissance recently. Previously seen as little more than an ingredient for cocktails, drinkers are gunning for certain ryes with a fervor that can eclipse similar bourbon releases. And while rye whiskey still has a ways to go before coming close to recapturing its 18th to 19th-century popularity, the potential is certainly there.
Many heritage distilleries offered rye whiskeys even during its not-so-distant downturn, but it wasn’t until a few years ago that America’s best-selling whiskey brand offered a rye whiskey for the masses. In some ways, Jack Daniel’s Rye is an apt companion to its Old Number 7 counterpart, but there are a couple of curious differences worth noting. For starters, the rye is bottled at 45% ABV against Old Number 7’s 40%, immediately making it more attractive since it’s not watered down to the minimum legal requirement for whiskey. Also worth considering is the mash bill of 70% rye, 18% corn, and 12% malted barley. This point is interesting since most rye whiskeys seem to consist of a barely legal recipe of 51% rye and around 33% corn, or a corn-less 95% rye (commonly Ross & Squibb).
These noteworthy differences come at a roughly $5 markup compared to Old Number 7, at worst. So for about the same price, you get a less watered-down product that stands to be more interesting thanks to its dominant grain. Bourbon will always be my comfort zone whiskey, but rye tends to be the more exciting spirit. How much does Jack Daniel’s Rye fit into this camp? Let’s find out.
Nose: Lively and tropical banana note at the forefront with backing aromas of cherry, dark brown sugar, and slightly musty pepper. This balances the chalky, molasses-like essence typical of Jack Daniel’s with brighter rye flavors quite nicely.
Palate: Wintergreen, vanilla cream, and unripe banana seamlessly blend together. Musty dark brown sugar and sweet clove notes add to the fun, Christmas-y personality.
Finish: Watery and anticlimactic at first, but subsequent sips bring out more cinnamon, pepper, and rye spice. A welcome, comforting presence of corn rounds out the experience.
Brown-Forman seems to have a solid grasp on rye whiskey between Old Forester, Woodford Reserve, and Jack Daniel’s. Where Woodford’s is technically just outside the barely legal jurisdiction, Old Forester takes a couple of turns by utilizing a moderate 65% rye mash bill with malted barely as the secondary grain while still making use of corn. As for Jack Daniel’s? It theoretically straddles the line between its family members while implementing the Lincoln County Process. This translates to a rye whiskey that, despite its shortcomings, comes out ahead with how surprisingly good it is for the price.
I went into this bottle expecting something roughly on par with Old Number 7, if not slightly better. Instead of getting a light and boring product, I got a relatively bold and exciting rye, given the statistics. Although the finish ultimately lets things down a bit, the nose is immediately attention-grabbing while shifting your perspective from doubt to intrigue. Look past the somewhat thin consistency and you’ll be rewarded with a lively flavor profile that makes excellent use of Jack Daniel’s oft-mentioned banana note. The profile gives me both summer and winter vibes between the tropical fruit notes and Christmas-like sugar and spice essence. It sounds weird to write and read, but also works surprisingly well.
Another aspect that catches me slightly off-guard is how pleasantly bright the experience is. I point this out because I reviewed a Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel Rye long before this, and I think I prefer this experience overall, especially for the price. I welcome the increased barrel influence and superior viscosity of the single barrel, but it didn’t feel nearly as lively as the standard rye. It’s not even that I universally prefer ryes like this—Michter’s Rye is closer to Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel Rye and I’d take the Michter’s over this, even with the price. However, the profile of Jack Daniel’s Rye feels more in line with a fun rye whereas its single barrel sibling strikes me as more easygoing.
Ultimately, the takeaway I hope you get from this review is to not sleep on Jack Daniel’s Rye, particularly if you’re on a budget. There’s a fair number of solid, budget rye whiskeys, and Jack Daniel’s makes a ridiculously strong case for itself thanks to the fun and exciting personality on display. In fact, this might be my favorite sub $40 rye whiskey.
The Whiskey Ramble 
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