| Don't like ads? | No ads |
There was a time when “Jack Daniel’s” only meant that iconic black label “#No. 7” bottle on every liquor store shelf. But times have changed and everyone can agree that the distillery has fully embraced bold innovation in almost every genre of whiskey.
In the realm of rye whiskey, Jack has quite a few examples released since 2011. You can follow their steady progression when you look at the timeline…
2012 – Unaged Rye
2014 – Rested Rye
2016 – Single Barrel Rye
2017 – Straight Tennessee Rye
2019 – Tennessee Tasters Barrel Proof Rye
2020 – Special Release Single Barrel Barrel Proof Rye
2021 – Bold & Spicy (Duty Free Shops)
2023 – Twice Barreled Heritage Rye, Single Barrel Barrel Proof Rye and Bonded Rye
As you can see, they’ve been increasing production – and number of labels – by leaps and bounds for a little more than a decade. But today I’ll be concentrating on one of the more recent additions to the lineup; Jack Bonded Rye.
Jack Daniel’s Bonded Rye – A Tennessee-Style take on rye whiskey
This bottle clearly signals Jack Daniel’s ambition to elevate rye whiskey from side project to a pillar in their lineup. They’re ditching the 90 proof “Straight Tennessee Rye” for this new(ish) Bottled-in-Bond label. As a quick note for the uninitiated, The BiB Act states that to wear this terminology on the label, the whiskey must come from a single distiller, a single distillation season and be aged at least four years in a federally bonded warehouse (of which Jack has a lot!). Then it is bottled at exactly 100 proof. Jack Daniel’s faithfully adheres to these rules but adds Tennessee’s trademark twist: charcoal mellowing.
Unlike Jack’s other Tennessee Whiskey (which is really just bourbon), their Bonded Rye doesn’t pass through the customary ten feet of sugar maple charcoal. Instead, it flows through roughly three feet after distillation. This is said to be done so that the rye spice doesn’t get totally filtered out. I tried confirming this information with my tour guide on a pick I did back in December, 2024, but they told me that information was top secret.
What I did find out is that Jack Daniel’s Rye Whiskey and Malt Whiskey are both produced at their newest distillery dubbed “JD2” by their staff. You won’t get to see this on their tour, but they’ll gesture vaguely to the east when you’re coming out of their distillery building and say “that’s where our other distillery is.” This map will show you in more detail.
Bonded Rye – older than you’d think
The label on this bottle only reveals what the law requires which means it doesn’t have to tell us its exact age. However, Master Distiller Chris Fletcher noted that the first Bonded Rye batch released in 2023 was actually distilled in the spring 2016. That means it was aged for roughly seven years. Future batches are expected to maintain similar maturity.
Each expression of Jack’s various ryes shares the same 70% rye, 18% corn, and 12% malted barley mash bill. The yeast they use is supposedly the same as their Tennessee Whiskey which would explain why a lot of reviewers find similar banana notes in the rye that they do in their Tennessee Whiskey. As for the cooperage, current iterations of their rye whiskey were made and aged in barrels that were made at their cooperage in Alabama up to 2024 when it was sold off to Independent Stave Company.
Okay, enough about the specs, let’s find out how this new Bonded Rye is. I sampled it neat in a glencairn.
Tasting Notes
Nose: Baking spices like cinnamon and clove open the nose. Sweet scents are right behind it with maple sugar candies, banana custard and brown sugar. The lightly toasted oak notes hint to the 7 years in a barrel and are accompanied with some subtle herbal notes. Jack isn’t really known for herbal notes in my opinion, but proofing it down to this level must have softened everything up enough for it to shine through.
Palate: Fairly bold and spicy for only 100 proof. I’m wondering if it’s not more to do with the rye grain rather than the proof. Anyway, the spice notes center around black peppercorns, fresh mint and ground cinnamon. Sweetness is always present which makes this enjoyable to a wide range of enthusiasts. I can find molasses, toasted brown sugar and a hint of maple. The herbal notes from the nose die down a bit but a bit of citrus and pine shine through. There’s also a tiny bit of oak. I can also find bit of banana underneath it all.
Finish: The finish is warm and lingers moderately long. It keeps the spice at the forefront while slowly evolving into vanilla, brown sugar and maple. Citrus and herbal notes keep your mind centered on the 70% rye in the mash bill. A nice cooling menthol note is present with each opening of your mouth. Nicely done.
Score: 7/10
Jack’s Bonded Rye stands out from the crowd with its distinctive maple-and-banana-accented character. It’s easy to sip and has minimal burn while also maintaining a good degree of rye character. If nothing else, it’s maybe one of the best bang-for-your-buck ryes once price, proof and age are factored in. I’m not even kidding.
It feels almost criminal to like Jack’s rye this much. I mean, I guess I shouldn’t be surprised – I’ve loved all of their rye products so far and even named Jack Rye as my #1 most memorable whiskey of 2023. All of this is reaffirmation that Jack has uncovered the secret behind making great rye whiskey. Whatever they’re doing, I hope they keep doing it.
Final Thoughts
At $30 (but I’ve seen this as low as $26!), how can I not recommend this rye whiskey? I love the fact that Jack has made it so accessible. The only slight ding I’ll give it is that it comes in a 700ml bottle. But the question remains – are many people even aware at this awesome deal is just setting on the shelves of their local liquor store? My guess is not. It took me a while to buy my own bottle, but I’m glad I did.
Jack Daniel’s Bonded Rye is an easy recommendation as your versatile shelfer rye. It’s perfect as a staple neat pour or an essential cocktail companion. For enthusiasts of Single Barrel Barrel Proof Rye (like me), Bonded Rye isn’t a replacement—it’s the everyday pour that lets you save your favorite bottles for special occasions.
