Jack Daniel’s unveils Coy Hill barrel-proof rye

A decade atop the distillery's highest hill produces a Tennessee rye with plenty of character – and proof reaching 148.5

10:18 a.m. Oct. 20, 2026

DUANE CROSS
MCO Publisher•Editor

Coy Hill has a reputation for producing some of Jack Daniel's boldest whiskeys. Now, rye is getting its turn in the spotlight.

The Jack Daniel Distillery has unveiled its 2026 Single Barrel Special Release Coy Hill Rye, marking the first time a Tennessee Rye Whiskey aged in the distillery's famed hilltop barrelhouses has been bottled as a Single Barrel release.

And with barrels ranging from 128.7 to 148.5 proof, this one isn't exactly shy.

It's the latest addition to an annual series that has featured several of the distillery's high-proof Coy Hill expressions.

Ten years on the hill

The story begins in 2016, when Jack Daniel's filled new, charred American white oak barrels with its signature Tennessee Rye Whiskey, made from a mash bill of 70% rye, 18% corn, and 12% malted barley.

As with the distillery's other Tennessee whiskeys, the spirit underwent charcoal mellowing before entering the barrels. From there, it headed uphill.

For the next decade, the whiskey matured in Barrelhouse 1-13 atop Coy Hill, the highest elevation point on the distillery property. Around Lynchburg, Coy Hill is more than a name on a bottle. It's part of the landscape above the distillery, where hot Tennessee summers and cold winters push whiskey in and out of the oak, shaping its flavor over time.

The result, according to the distillery, is a rye with orchard fruit, honey, and toasted oak on the nose. Citrus sweetness, light molasses, black tea, and robust oak follow on the palate. The finish varies from barrel to barrel but leans toward sweeter rye notes and lingering barrel spice.

Jack Daniel's Master Distiller Chris Fletcher said the annual Special Release series gives the distillery an opportunity to explore what different aging environments can bring to its whiskey. "The annual Special Release series has allowed us to push the boundaries of our whiskey-making craft, and our previous Coy Hill releases have been among our most acclaimed," Fletcher said.

He said the combination of Coy Hill's unique aging conditions and more than a decade in the barrel produced a whiskey the distillery is particularly proud to share.

Coy Hill has been here before

The 2026 release follows last year's Tanyard Hill Rye and adds another chapter to Coy Hill's growing reputation among whiskey enthusiasts.

Previous releases include the 2021 Coy Hill High Proof, which set new proof records for Jack Daniel's; the 2022 Small Batch Coy Hill High Proof; and the 2024 Coy Hill Barrelhouse 8 Tennessee Whiskey.

Earlier this year, the distillery also introduced a Coy Hill Small Batch Rye.

The newest expression brings that history back to a single barrel. No two barrels age exactly alike, even when they've spent a decade under the same roof. Each bottle carries the character of its individual barrel rather than a blend of several.

Jack Daniel's Single Barrel Special Release Coy Hill Rye is available now at select retailers nationwide in 700 mL bottles, with a suggested retail price of $89.99.