Thomas H. Handy Sazerac Rye (Fall 2019)

For my 150th tasting, I'm pleased to finally sample this. I have the standard Sazerac Rye (baby Saz), which uses the same recipe but has a much lower proof (90 proof). Let's examine this 6-year-old, 125.7 proof version of Buffalo Trace's rye mashbill. The aroma features rich baking spices (especially cinnamon and clove) that stand out, followed by caramel, freshly baked bread, light leather, toasted marshmallows, and cooked red apples. Not a lot of rye-specific spice is apparent in the aroma, just a tiny bit. After the first sip, further smelling reveals a very peculiar cardboard box note, quite strange. The palate is moderately sweet with a rich, oily mouthfeel. The rye spice is definitely present here along with vanilla, apples, caramel, and leather. On subsequent tastes, that cardboard box aroma becomes noticeable, but like slightly stale cardboard. Odd. The finish tingles on the tip and front sides of the tongue with rye and vanilla lingering for a bit, and a slight bitterness at the back. I quite like this. However, that unusual cardboard box note that only appeared after the first sip or so is baffling. It doesn't ruin the experience for me, but it's very strange and unlike anything I've encountered before.

Appearance: Resembles the sun setting over polished bronze. Slow-forming legs. Aroma: Faint hints of peach iced tea, chocolate cake from a box, cereal, and earthy botanical scents concealed beneath a thick layer of cream soda sweetness. Taste: Cinnamon-raisin rye bread powerfully asserts itself over raw honey and marmalade sweetness. The impact is so swift that the sweetness is fleeting, but it's highly rewarding. The rye spice/rye bread flavor dominates within a botanical environment that quickly dries and coats the mouth. Finish: It concludes promptly, yet the finish is by no means brief. The flavors don't vanish but rather scatter like falling leaves. The finish is more than satisfying with a retro-nasal sweetness like "cherry sours" candy, fermented cocoa nibs, spices, and aged wood. Dry, but VERY full. Every taste was pure delight. The alcohol percentage is irrelevant here. The ABV presents no challenge. I was fortunate to get a small sample from a generous individual in a spirits group I belong to. Thanks to them. Definitely seek this out if you have the chance. To this point, the finest whiskey I have ever experienced.

Grateful to have sampled this with companions who possess extensive knowledge of bourbon and industry connections. I was informed that this particular year was exceptional, second only to another, prompting a tasting. For context, one companion has a vast collection of similar spirits. This was my first taste of this type of rye, and I doubt I will ever encounter a better one. The initial taste was divine! Sweet, candy-like, with no harshness. Spicy rye lingered on the palate, inviting another sip. It's incredible how a spirit of this strength can be so palatable. While obtaining a bottle at retail is unlikely, I would purchase one instantly if I saw it. Though I adored this spirit, it has set an impossibly high bar for all other ryes.

The aroma is an explosion of sweet, fruit-forward rye spice, like a delightful spiced wine. As the spirit airs, charred wood appears, alongside hints of burnt brown sugar, vanilla, and molasses sweetness. The taste delivers a surge of sweet, peppery rye spice that tingles the palate, all while having a wonderful chewiness. Dry wood underpins the entire experience, with sweeter notes emerging at the end to temper the rye's spice with butterscotch and honey. The finish is of medium length, featuring a chewy rye spice that lingers, accompanied by a persistent, chewy, dry woodiness. This is immense and robust, yet maintains a relative simplicity. Every sip offers a profound rye encounter.

Nose: caramel, maple syrup, cardamom, dark chocolate, rye spice, polished leather, cinnamon buns. Palate: Maple syrup, caramel, dill, wood spice, cardamom, cinnamon, ginger, herbal-vegetal note just before the finish. Finish: A lengthy, drying, and chewy finish with notes of rye spice, caramel, and cinnamon. This is the epitome of complex. So many notes! Both on the nose and palate, I detect countless smells and flavors that would be too extensive to list. This bottle continues to impress me due to its color, complexity, and overall deliciousness, especially considering it has less than seven years of aging. The 2019 bottling, in particular, stands out as my favorite from the batch I've tried.

A pour from a place in Aspen. Very pleasant sweetness on the nose. Completely distinctive. My initial impression is a dryness on the lips. A long, pleasant warmth remains after the finish, leaving a dry sensation on the roof of my mouth. It's uniform on the palate, with the primary flavor being white grapes at the back. There are also hints of woody, spicy, rye notes. Chewing it reveals the caramel flavor I enjoy from higher proof bourbons, but it's accompanied by some bitterness. Overall, I'm glad I tried it, but I won't be repeating the experience.