Sazerac Rye

Sazerac Rye - 1- The nose is more traditional, with pleasant hints of orange and perhaps some baking spice, giving it an overall darker and richer profile. On a third tasting, I detect a bit of traditional oak. The orange on the nose might carry over to the palate, perhaps as tangerine? It reminds me of an old-fashioned in a glass, with orange, a touch of bitterness (like bitters), and a light cherry. Is it fruit cocktail? The cherry becomes syrupy, almost honey-like... combined with the oak, it's very balanced, and I could happily sip this into the evening. The last sip brought superb berry aromas, blackberry and blueberry. It almost tasted like grape koolaid, but quickly returned to blueberry. The bitterness on the palate has vanished, making it instantly more appealing. A wisp of smoky char appeared as I finished my last sip.

PICK: Twin Liquors//BARREL #144 NEAT AROMA - Wow. Peach Jam, Butterscotch, Honey, and Caramel. This is one of the most pleasant and sweet-smelling ryes I've ever encountered. TASTE - The texture is velvety, featuring notes of honey and caramel. The peach jam is present but overshadowed by the other two flavors, and the butterscotch is absent on the palate. The alcohol content is deceptive given the intensity of the flavor in this Sazerac Rye. The flavors are incredibly vibrant. It goes down extremely smoothly, with no hint of spice or burn. FINISH - Incredibly smooth! No burn at all. WORTH BUYING? - Definitely!!! BUY AGAIN?? - I haven't tried the standard offering, but I'm sure I will. However, passing up any more barrel selections I find would be foolish considering the price point. ($30-35)

The nose immediately presents rye spice, vanilla, and smoke. Mint and tart green apple are also discernible. The tasting notes feature spices that warm the throat and linger, followed by vanilla and brown sugar that coat the palate. A subtle cherry or perhaps white grapefruit note is also present. The smoke detected on the nose doesn't appear in the taste. Subsequent sips reveal a stunning briny, saltwater note. It's a good rye, but expensive in my region and allocated. Better Canadian ryes are available, like anything from Lot 40, for much less. Nose: 3.5/5 Taste: 4.25/5 Overall 4/5 Repurchase: No Type: Friday Night Pour

The last time I reviewed this, around five years ago, I criticized it for its profile decline over time, likely due to supply issues and younger whisky being included. The profile seemed to vary quite a bit during those years, to the extent that two bottles I had were so bad they were undrinkable. Well, it's now more regularly available and it appears, at least so far, to be back to its former quality. I bought a handle from Costco for $40, which is already hard to beat at that price, but it's incredibly sweet and fruity along with the usual baking spices & herbs. It's quite enjoyable neat. Hopefully this trend continues.

Nose: Clearly a rye. I'm going into this expecting it to be one of the few ryes I can enjoy neat, as I generally prefer rye whiskey in cocktails but find them less enjoyable to sip than good bourbon. Palate: Initially delightful, but the rye character becomes dominant and remains quite potent for its proof. I'm estimating its age at 4-6 years. If you appreciate rye flavors, you won't find a better sipping option below $80-$100, but this is not a sweet, oaky bourbon. Finish: Pleasant. It still carries hints of Buffalo Trace character, but again, it's a bit potent for its proof. It doesn't require ice, but the flavor lingers.

An excellent introductory Rye Whiskey! It offers great value for its $30 suggested retail price. It's sweet, slightly spicy, and fruity with a lower alcohol content. The nose has cherry, cinnamon, and sweet vanilla, with a subtle waxy note suggesting young whiskey aged in new oak. The texture is thin, not particularly oily or creamy. While the taste is less intense than the aroma, it still delivers cherry, vanilla, and cinnamon, along with baking spices like allspice. The finish is sweet, sugary, with a touch of wax. It's very smooth and easy to drink, with no harshness. Recommended for newcomers to experience what rye whiskey can offer. Cheers!