Sazerac Rye 18 Year (Fall 2016)

I had no idea I was about to try a standard rye that's a quarter as complex as Crown Royal Rye, especially after spending forty bucks plus a tip for just one ounce of this stuff. I looked around for the bar owner to ask him, "Dude?! Did you put Rittenhouse in this bottle or something? Lame." But who knows – maybe it was a bad batch, year, or bottle? All in all, I was disappointed. I'm a big fan of Buffalo Trace, and that Sazerac/Buffalo nose is present, but this particular release isn't worth your hard-earned cash. Look elsewhere.

$25 for a one-ounce sample. Brown sugar, vanilla, and oak notes on the nose. It was a bit harsh going down and tasted like eating a bunch of fruity candy. The finish was decent and slightly spicy. Overall, I really enjoyed the aroma and the taste was distinctive. The finish was acceptable. It's worth buying one bottle at retail, but definitely not at secondary market prices. I would get one for my collection but likely not a second bottle.

March 22, 2017. Sampled at Holland House in East Nashville. $30 per glass. Age could not be confirmed. Quite good. It's 126 proof and you can tell. Rich, spicy flavors with a hot apple finish that tastes like cinnamon.

I anticipated something more, given the 'BTAC' label. It didn't meet the expectations, with a rather dry and bitter finish. I've had superior 4-year-old Rye whiskeys.

Nose: Deep notes of caramel and sweetness. Taste: Strong heat, floral notes, and vanilla. It's much smoother on the second taste. Over Ice: More medicinal with spearmint.

Decent, but it feels like something is missing; overall unremarkable. Disappointed I picked this over trying the Handy again, but that's how it goes.