Tasting Tuesday: Hazmat vs. Heavyweight

This week’s Tasting Tuesday featured a bottle I don’t own—but was honored to experience.

My best friend Scott brought over a bottle of Jack Daniel’s Tanyard Hill Rye, and we put it head-to-head against a familiar favorite: Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel Barrel Proof Rye.

The result? Mind-blowing.
And yes, that’s a big word—but it fits.

First, let’s talk proof. The Barrel Proof Rye clocks in at 134 proof, while Tanyard Hill is a literal hazmat at 142 proof. Eight points may not sound like much, but in the glass—and on the palate—they matter.

Color

Both pours are stunning, but they’re different animals.

The Barrel Proof leans toward a deep, rich brown. The Tanyard Hill, though, looks almost like port wine—dark, glossy, and inviting. It practically whispers, “Drink me.”

Aroma

There’s absolutely nothing wrong with the Barrel Proof. It delivers that classic Jack Daniel’s dessert-in-a-glass profile: banana, chocolate, caramel, baking spice.

The Tanyard Hill takes all of that—and turns the volume knob way up. The aromas don’t drift; they announce themselves.

Palate, Complexity & Mouthfeel

Here’s where the difference really shows.

I wouldn’t say the Tanyard Hill is significantly more complex, but the flavors are more immediate and more assertive. Everything you smell shows up instantly on the palate. The viscosity coats the tongue, locking those flavors in place.

It’s a parade—rich, bold, unapologetic—and one you want to stretch out as long as possible.

The Barrel Proof Rye is still excellent. It’s just… not the Tanyard Hill.

Finish

Before today, the Barrel Proof Rye had the best finish on my shelf—and it still does.

Because the Tanyard Hill is going back to Tennessee with Scott.

And with it goes a finish that simply would not quit. That syrupy mouthfeel held flavor in place for minutes after the dram was gone. Long, warm, and unforgettable.

Price

Here’s where reality kicks in.

I bought my Barrel Proof Rye in Tennessee, but I just picked up another bottle at Total Wine for $55. (Their store pick is running $15 cheaper than the standard $70 bottle that sits there year-round.)

Tanyard Hill’s MSRP is a very reasonable $80—that’s straight from Jack Daniel’s. But try finding it at that price anywhere in the known world. Scott was lucky to land his close to MSRP. The lowest price I found online? $600.

Final Thoughts

If you can find Tanyard Hill at a reasonable price, buy it.
Today. Without hesitation.

But here’s the real takeaway: be thankful that the Barrel Proof Rye—and its sibling, the Barrel Proof Tennessee Whiskey—are available at fair prices every day of the year.

Yes, tasting Tanyard Hill might make you briefly dissatisfied with the Barrel Proof. Don’t let it. It’s still the best whiskey on my shelf.

And I’m about to pour a little more—right after I type this last period.

About Douglas Blaine

Capnpen is a writer who was a newspaper and magazine journalist in a previous life. A college journalism major, he now works as an English teacher, but gets his writing fix by blogging about a variety of topics, including politics, religion, movies and television. When he's not working or blogging, Capnpen spends time with his family, plays a little golf (badly) and loves to learn about virtually anything.

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