Jack Daniel’s Small Batch Special Release Coy Hill High Proof (2022) Tennessee Whiskey
Whoof…that’s quite a lengthy title, isn’t it?
The Jack Daniel’s Small Batch Special Release Coy Hill High Proof is, as you might imagine, a high proof heater like no other. The minimum proof on this is 143.6, going up to 147.3, 149.8, 153.2, and 155.1 to comprise five distinct batches. This is the highest proof Jack Daniel’s has ever put out, surpassing last year’s equally wordy Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel Special Release Coy Hill High Proof (maxed out at 148.3 proof).
For ease of reading and my fingers, these will be Coy Hill Single Barrel/2021 and Coy Hill Small Batch/2022 from here on out. My review is also on Batch #4 of these, the 153.2 proof batch.
Despite the small name change, this year’s Coy Hill is what’s leftover from 2021’s special release. According to Jack Daniel’s, there were some barrels that had evaporated so significantly that they didn’t have enough liquid to economically sell as a single barrel. Instead, they held onto those barrels (presumably taking them off the ricks before they spontaneously combusted) and batched them for 2022’s release.
It’s a fascinating market study, if you think about it. The liquid is the same, just batched instead of single barrel - but, given the high evaporation and high proof, the differences would be minimal. Or so I thought.
I’m a self-avowed proof whore - high proof, I love it. For me, many whiskies fall flat because they’re too watered down. I’m not saying everything has to be hazmat level, but 110-115 proof makes a huge difference over 100, just as 100 makes a huge difference over 80-90 proof. With this release, though, Jack Daniel’s went from toying with hazmat proof to going full bore over the line. For the uninitiated, a whiskey or spirit is called “hazmat” when it equals or exceeds 140 proof, as that is not allowed on airplanes and is considered hazardous whether or not it is potable.
So, consider this a warning: don’t go into drinking this expecting it to be “smooth” or an easy sipper. Hell, they had to redesign the cork and tell you to keep the bottle upright at all times unless pouring because otherwise the cork would dissolve or explode.
Not surprisingly, these are already sold out. There were 55 barrels used for the five batches, all of which had assumedly less liquid in them than a full cask (remember, they were ruled out as single barrels for this reason), so not a lot of cases to spread around. Jack Daniel’s only made this available at the distillery or at their store and only in 375ml bottles, and I haven’t seen a single one opened before it hit secondary.
The other thing I kind of miss is that since these are batches and because of smaller bottle sizes, there’s no room for an age statement. 2021’s Coy Hill release wasn’t officially age stated - BUT - because it was a single barrel, both the bottling and barreling date were on the label. The bottle I eventually got was about nine years old, so if these 2022 bottles were rejected from that same pool, I think it safe to assume the age is around the same. These would still be some of the oldest whiskey Jack Daniel’s has put out in over a century, just behind 2021’s Jack Daniel’s Ten Year Old.
Ultimately, this will surely satisfy the proof whore in me, but falls a bit short of its predecessor. The nose and palate are fantastic, with the proof surprisingly in check (and by that, I mean it doesn’t immediately set my face on fire - evaluate at your own risk). But the finish…the finish….what finish? It disappears like a shadow at noon. The barest of the nose and palate remain for a short, short time. Which is a shame, because this could have been at least a point or two higher if it were a complete pour.
Oh - one other question I have that I’ll be exploring further - anyone else notice residue on their glasses when drinking high proof Brown-Forman products? Seriously, drink some Jack Daniel’s Barrel Proof, Old Forester Single Barrel Barrel Proof, anything in that group, and your glen or rocks glass will have a film on the inside. More to come on that…
Jack Daniel’s Small Batch Special Release Coy Hill High Proof (2022) Tennessee Whiskey: Specs
Classification: Tennessee Whiskey
Origin: Jack Daniel’s Distillery
Mashbill: 80% Corn, 12% Malted Barley, and 8% Rye
Proof: 153.2 (76.6% ABV)
Age: NAS
Location: Tennessee
Jack Daniel’s Small Batch Special Release Coy Hill High Proof (2022) Tennessee Whiskey Price: $55
Jack Daniel’s Small Batch Special Release Coy Hill High Proof (2022) Tennessee Whiskey Review: Tasting Notes
Eye: Dark - date syrup. No rims or legs, slight residue on the glass.
Nose: Proof is moderate at most here. Jack Daniel’s concentrate, made into a syrup and poured on maple sugar candies. Intense caramel and dark brown sugar, cognac-flambeed vanilla creme brûlée.
Palate: Oh my. Stronger proof lashes the tongue, classic Jack Daniel’s cranked to 20. Spiced brown sugar caramels and dark red fruit, plums and red nectarines. Not as heavy as anticipated. Mouthfeel is warming and white pepper forward, fruit being caramelized and 80% chocolate bitterness. Roasted coffee. Creamy, peppery oak, mouthwatering.
Finish: The front of my tongue numbs for a few seconds, resets, then the chocolate and red fruit come on. Much, much shorter than I’d expect or want.
Overall: What a bummer. Kick-ass nose and palate fall flat before the finish line. There’s so much depth and complexity to the first two just to have the bottom drop from under you.
Final Rating: 6.7
10 | Insurpassable | Nothing Else Comes Close
9 | Incredible | Extraordinary
8 | Excellent | Exceptional
7 | Great | Well above average
6 | Very Good | Better than average
5 | Good | Good, solid, ordinary
4 | Has promise but needs work
1-3 | Let’s have a conversation
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