The New Jack Daniel’s Bonded Rye Whiskey Is a Stunner
In May 2022, Jack Daniel's rolled out its first super-premium line extension in 25 years: the Bonded Series. The first two bottlings, the Bonded Tennessee Whiskey and the Triple Mash Blended Straight Whiskey, hit shelves last year. Now, nearly a year and a half later, the distillery has finally rolled out the third expression in the range, Jack Daniel’s Bonded Rye Whiskey–and it’s a stunner.
For those who don’t know, as stipulated by the Bottled-in-Bond Act of 1897, a bonded whiskey must be distilled by a single distiller during a single season, matured in a government bonded warehouse for at least four years and bottled at 100 proof. For Jack Daniel’s master distiller Chris Fletcher, that’s what makes the Bonded Series special.
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“The Bottled-in-Bond designation on Jack Daniel’s Bonded Rye is another stamp of quality, assuring consumers that every drop of our whiskey is made right here in Lynchburg at the Jack Daniel Distillery with the highest standards possible," says Fletcher. "Bonded Rye features our uniquely crafted rye grain bill at 100 proof, delivering a unique and balanced profile that drinkers have come to expect and seek out from our rye releases.”
Bottled at 50 percent ABV (as it has to be), Jack Daniel’s Bonded Rye features a mashbill of 70 percent rye, 18 percent corn, and 12 percent malted barley. The whiskey is charcoal mellowed before it's aged in new, handmade American white oak barrels. The rye grain percentage sits somewhere in the middle of American ryes produced these days—those produced in Kentucky generally sit closer to the low legal limit of 51 percent rye, while those made by Indiana distiller MGP often use 95 percent.
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On the flavor side, this certainly isn’t your Old No. 7. Expect notes of oak and dried fruit along with toffee, vanilla, banana bread, and a rye spice finish. Those who’ve had an opportunity to try the Triple Mash might find the Bonded Rye tasting somewhat familiar. That’s because it’s the core whiskey in the Triple Mash blend. And if you’re looking for a recommended use, try it in a traditional whiskey cocktail like a Manhattan or Old Fashioned, where the higher ABV should hold its own.
The Bonded Rye packaging is inspired by the original design of the 1895 Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Whiskey bottle and comes in the slightly smaller 700ml bottle that we’re all still getting used to. The bottling will be available across the U.S.
[$40; totalwine.com]
