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

Thomas H. Handy Sazerac Barrel Proof Straight Rye Whiskey 2018 Release

$1,099.00

$989.00
Overview
Straight Rye Whiskey · 750ml · 2018 Release

Thomas H. Handy Sazerac is the rye everyone talks about but can rarely get their hands on. It's the only rye in the Buffalo Trace Antique Collection, Buffalo Trace's most sought-after annual release. This 2018 edition was distilled in spring 2012 and aged in Warehouses I and L before being bottled straight from the barrel, uncut and unfiltered. Big, bold, and built for rye drinkers who want the real thing.

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
Age Statement 6 years, 4 months (distilled spring 2012)
ABV 64.4% (128.8 Proof)
Cask Type New charred oak barrels, aged in Warehouses I & L
Bottle Size 750ml
Tasting Notes

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

Nose: honey, caramel, and a touch of vanilla and maple syrup, with dried orange peel, cherry, and mint sitting alongside hints of allspice and clove.

Palate: sweet and spicy, big on caramel, orange, cherry, honey, and cinnamon, with mint, anise, and a bready rye character coming through

Finish: long and warming, starting sweet and hot with honey, spice, and cherry, before easing into mint, anise, and citrus that sticks around.

What sets this bottle apart
  • The only rye in the Buffalo Trace Antique Collection lineup
  • Bottled straight from the barrel, uncut and unfiltered, at a hefty 128.8 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, hard to find at list price
  • 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. This 2018 release was distilled in spring 2012 and rested in Warehouses I and L before bottling. 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 2018 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 2018 Thomas H. Handy is a proper showcase of what barrel-proof rye can do. No filtering, no shortcuts, just spice, fruit, and heat straight from the barrel. If you can get your hands on a bottle, it's worth having.