American

Whiskey Review: Sazerac Rye 18-Year-Old

We review the 2016 Sazerac Rye 18-Year-Old, the first edition in a few years to be pulled from oak, not stainless steel.

OVERALL RATING

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Tasting Notes

About:

Appearance:
Coppery apricot
Nose:
A very pure nose. Nice, bold rye immediately – pumpernickel bread, mint, and a strange but pronounced note of pineapple, including the skin. I love this – feels honest and straightforward.
Palate:
Just pure rye character here too, through and through. There’s a moderate sweetness, on the sweeter side for rye, which really gives the impression of delicious spiced baked goods. It’s very grainy, without a ton of fruit character. Exhaling after a sip is like biting into a piece of warm whole-grain gingerbread cake, spices and all. I find this relatively easy-going, despite a moderate alcohol warmth and a good amount of tannic structure – you can really feel the oak on the sides of your tongue. Final Thoughts: Sazerac Rye 18-Year-Old is a little simple, to be frank, but I like its straightforward delivery of rye flavor with a pleasant, rich sweetness. It doesn’t really feel like a special occasion whiskey, but if it was an option, I’d drink this all the time. Score: 90/100 [SHOP FOR A BOTTLE OF SAZERAC 18-YEAR-OLD] [scribd id=328144347 key=key-cU4DDHrzXNmwIJOpKCCy mode=scroll]
Finish:
Comments:

Editor’s Note: This whiskey was either bought as a sample by The Whiskey Wash or provided to us as a review sample by the party behind it. Per our editorial policies, this in no way influenced the outcome of this review.

Margarett Waterbury

Margarett Waterbury is the author of "Scotch: A Complete Introduction to Scotland's Whiskies" and a full-time freelance writer and editor specializing in the beverage industry. Her work has graced the pages of numerous publications, including Whisky Advocate, Food and Wine, Spirited Magazine, Artisan Spirit, Edible Seattle, Sip Northwest, Civil Eats, Travel Oregon, and many others. She also boasts editorial experience as the former managing editor of Edible Portland and as a co-founder and former managing editor of The Whiskey Wash. In recognition of her talent, Margarett received the Alan Lodge Young Drinks Writer of the Year award in 2017 and was awarded fellowships for the Symposium for Professional Wine Writers in 2017 and 2019.

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