Jack Daniels has been a regular fixture here lately on the Bourboneur blog as they've continued to push the envelope on a number of fronts.  Given the recent upswing however in popularity on the secondary market with the announcement that their popular Coy Hill offering is teed up for a 2024 release, we thought it was worthwhile to feature a post on Jack Daniels Coy Hill offerings.  The Coy Hill bottling originally hit the market in 2021 with proof's that range from 137.4 to 148.3.  Additionally, a small-batch special release Coy Hill High Proof bottling constituting some “plus, plus” proofs was released in 2022.  These five batches featured proofs of 143.6, 143.7, 149.8, 153.2, and a whopping 155.1 proof!  These single barrel offerings constitute the highest proof whiskey available from Jack Daniels.

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What is Coy Hill?

The Jack Daniels Coy Hill release draws inspiration from the highest point in elevation on the Jack Daniels property known as “Coy Hill.”  The Coy Hill offerings are said to come from the top ricks of the rickhouses 8 and 13, in what's referred to as the "buzzards roost."  Given the height in the rickhouse, you get more evaporation with the angels taking a higher share resulting in some elevated proof barrels.  The 2024 release is purported to come from the middle floors of rickhouse 8.

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Coy Hill Mash Bill and Aging

The Coy Hill bottling is made from the classic Jack Daniels mash bill of 80% corn, 12% malted barley and 8 percent rye.  As with other Tennessee Whiskies, it is mellowed by filtering through approximately ten feet of charcoal from freshly burned sugar maples before entering the barrel.  There is no age statement for the Coy Hill bottlings.

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What is Hazmat Bourbon?

Sometimes you may hear someone call a bottle of bourbon a "hazmat bottle."  Rest assured, these bottles have not been exposed to some level of nuclear radiation and are in fact, completely safe to drink- but - if you're worried about the proof level, send it along this way and we'll be happy to take care of it for you at the Bourboneur garage bar!  Hazmat is a term used to signify that the bottle is above 140 proof.  Not many bourbons reach this high level of high-octane proofing, but more and more distilleries are releasing hazmat bottles given the uptick in popularity in these liquid fire bottlings.  For the Coy Hill release, alcohol by volume varies on either side of the hazmat line, making some bottles more sought after than others – more on that later.  Interestingly, hazmat bourbon is illegal to fly with given the proof point, just one of a number of Fun Bourbon Facts to Impress Your Friends.

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How Much is Coy Hill on the Secondary?

Prices on the secondary market as mentioned earlier, have taken a recent run northward.  In general, pricing correlates to proof with the highest proofs (e.g. 148.3) commanding the highest prices.  Below we have pulled together recent secondary market data from the Bourbon Blue Book™ that highlights this correlation for the regular Coy Hill bottling, excluding the Small Batch High Proof batches.

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Is Coy Hill Worth the Price?

If you’ve got a hookup, or a means of finding the ultra-limited amount of these that may hit the market for seventy or so odd bucks, you should clearly buy it…then ask if you can buy another as a backup!  On the secondary market however, that’s a different beast entirely and I personally am not keen to sink north of five hundred dollars into this type of bottle.  Strip away a handful of proof and what you have is a Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel Barrel Proof bottling.  Yes, these aren’t hazmat bottles, with a top of maybe some 135 proof, but the price difference is astounding.  I’d say it’s a pass on the secondary and find yourself a nice JDSBBP that runs a little hotter than normal and call it a day.

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