-18%
Thomas H. Handy Sazerac Barrel Proof Straight Rye Whiskey 2023 Release - Bourbon Brothers Australia
-18%
Thomas H. Handy Sazerac Barrel Proof Straight Rye Whiskey 2023 Release - Bourbon Brothers Australia

Thomas H. Handy Sazerac Barrel Proof Straight Rye Whiskey 2023 Release

$1,099.00

$899.00
Overview

Thomas H. Handy Sazerac is the only rye in the Buffalo Trace Antique Collection, and one of the most allocated rye releases in the US. The 2023 edition was bottled at 124.9 proof (62.45% ABV), uncut and unfiltered, straight from the barrel. No adjustments, no shortcuts.

Named after the New Orleans bartender who helped popularise the Sazerac cocktail by swapping brandy for rye whiskey back in 1873. The 2023 release delivers dark fruit, anise, cinnamon, and raisin on the palate, with a long, warming finish of rye spice, fennel, caramel, and honey. Bold and complex in the way only a barrel-proof, unfiltered rye can be.

Product Details
Attribute Detail
Brand Buffalo Trace Distillery (Sazerac Company)
Producer Buffalo Trace Distillery
Country / Region USA, Frankfort, Kentucky
Style Straight Rye Whiskey
Mash Bill Not disclosed
ABV 62.45% (124.9 Proof)
Cask Type New charred American oak barrels
Bottle Size 750ml
Release Type 2023 Buffalo Trace Antique Collection, highly allocated
Tasting Notes

Note: profile shifts a little year to year since it's bottled at barrel proof with no adjustments.

Nose: Dark fruit, anise, black currant, cinnamon, and citrus zest.

Palate: Heavy raisin, dried apricot, cinnamon, and liquorice, with a silky, mouth-coating texture.

Finish: Long and warming, with rye spice, fennel, caramel, and honey.

What sets this bottle apart
  • The only rye in the Buffalo Trace Antique Collection lineup
  • Bottled straight from the barrel, uncut and unfiltered, at 124.9 proof
  • Named after Thomas H. Handy, the New Orleans bartender who put rye whiskey into the original Sazerac cocktail
  • One of the most allocated ryes in the US, now a genuine collector's bottle
  • Full barrel proof, so no two years taste quite the same
Distillery Information

Buffalo Trace Distillery in Frankfort, Kentucky is one of the most awarded distilleries in the world. Thomas H. Handy comes out once a year as part of the Buffalo Trace Antique Collection, alongside bottles like George T. Stagg and William Larue Weller. It's named after the New Orleans bartender who first swapped brandy for rye whiskey in the Sazerac cocktail back in 1873, and the whiskey still carries that same bold, spicy character.

Awards & Recognition

  • Part of the 2023 Buffalo Trace Antique Collection, one of the most anticipated whiskey releases of the year
  • Past editions of Thomas H. Handy have been named Best Rye Whiskey, No Age Statement, by Jim Murray's Whisky Bible
  • Consistently ranks among the most sought-after and highly rated rye releases in the US

Who this bottle is for
  • Rye drinkers after the boldest, spiciest pour on the shelf
  • Bourbon fans ready to step up to barrel proof
  • Buffalo Trace Antique Collection chasers filling out the set
  • Anyone after a genuinely allocated bottle, not just a label that says limited
How to enjoy

  • Best neat to get the full barrel proof kick
  • A splash of water opens up the spice and fruit
  • Great for sharing: one pour and everyone will have an opinion

Why we curate it

The 2023 Thomas H. Handy is a proper showcase of what barrel-proof rye can do. No filtering, no shortcuts, just dark fruit, spice, and heat straight from the barrel. If you can get your hands on a bottle, it's worth having.