Thomas H. Handy Sazerac Rye (Fall 2014)

The aroma begins with a rich pecan pie, slightly overcooked crust, followed by moderate herbal notes reminiscent of the forest floor and dusty barn interiors. Then comes a noticeable black pepper spice and lightly charred pumpernickel bread. Mildly tart fruit notes emerge, like Granny Smith apple peel, baked cherry pie, and candied lemon zest, leading to a complex blend of vanilla-orange crème brûlée, candied fennel, and black licorice, all with a potent ethanol sting. The taste offers a thick, syrupy texture, starting with decadent pecan pie and moderate forest floor herbs, then a noticeable black pepper spice that gradually gives way to fresh pumpernickel bread. Baked cherry pie, sautéed apples, and sour lemon hard candy follow, culminating in a rich vanilla-orange crème brûlée, candied fennel, black licorice, and polished mahogany, accompanied by a high ethanol burn. The finish is extended, featuring cinnamon apple pie, vanilla-orange crème brûlée, dill, cloves, spearmint, and the aroma of dusty barn floors. This is a robust, potent rye, likely not suited for all palates due to its high proof, which is evident throughout. It provides a rich, decadent sweetness alongside notes of dusty oak, earthy forest rye, toasted bread, sour and creamy citrus, and candied rye flavors that carry a slightly tart youthful character. A moderate pepper spice initially dominates the palate but thankfully recedes, allowing the rye and citrus notes to come through. The long finish balances rye, creamy citrus, and dusty oak, lingering for several minutes. This high-proof rye is quite enjoyable, but it doesn't impress me as much as the Lock Stock and Barrel 18 year or Barrell Seagrass 16 year. Compared to those, this one seems tart and young, with a strong peppery bitterness. The Lock Stock and Barrel 18 year is more refined and polished, while the Barrell Seagrass 16 year is richer and achieves a better balance of big, bold flavors, making it, in my opinion, a superior choice for a high-proof rye purchase. If one is fortunate enough to find this at its suggested retail price of $100 or even $150, it's a great deal. However, it's not worth pursuing at today's exorbitant prices.

Outstanding spirit. Nose: Red Apples, Cinnamon, Milk Chocolate, Christmas Cakes, Oranges, Figs, Red Chili Peppers, Jalapeños, Bananas, Maple Syrup, Honey, Treacle, Coconuts Palate: Red Apples, Cloves, Oranges, Cherries, Big Red Gum, Nutmeg, Cloves, Treacle, Licorice, Dill, Mexican Hot Chocolate, Oranges, Christmas Cakes Finish: Treacle, Cloves, Big Red Gum, Bananas, Honey, Maple Syrup, Mocha, Cherry Cola

I had this bottle for years before finally opening it with friends during the holidays. Two of them are huge fans of TH above all other spirits. Now I understand the buzz - intensely sweet with a perfect balance of spice and warmth, and a lingering finish. I also tried it with a couple drops of water, but honestly, all three of us enjoyed it more neat.

The aroma seems unlike other Handy bottles I've encountered. A potent alcohol burn accompanies an intriguing watermelon and rubber scent. The palate offers floral and fruity notes, clearly indicating a rye. It's sweet with a pleasant bitterness at the end, and smoother than the aroma and proof would imply. 8/2/18

This one is a bit fiery initially, but adding an ice cube made it truly shine. I wholeheartedly concur with the malted milk chocolate observation. Smoked caramel is also present. It ranks among my top five of all time.

Bold and intricate. Starts with a powerful yet pleasing port flavor, incorporating notes of grape and citrus. Concludes with a smooth blend of cinnamon, nutmeg, and vanilla.