American

Whiskey Review: Thomas H. Handy Sazerac Rye (2016)

We review 2016's Thomas H. Handy Sazerac Rye, the youngest member of the Buffalo Trace Antique Collection.

OVERALL RATING

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Tasting Notes

About:

126.2 proof, six years old, $90 MSRP for a 750ml bottle but, like all BTAC releases, you’ll most likely pay more.
Appearance:
Bright copper
Nose:
The nose is a bit milder than I expected, to be honest. Stoneground mustard, cherry preserves, and a faint note of fruit popsicles mingle with some vegetal notes like cooked corn and steamed greens.
Palate:
Rich and full, honeyed but also savory – think rye crisps topped with dark honey and black pepper, although the spice is felt more in the nose than on the tongue. Extremely well-integrated, the flavor really builds in a cohesive, continuous wave from entry to finish. Speaking of the finish, it’s fruity and herbaceous, with a strong note of mentholated cherry cough drops giving it an almost cooling quality. Water does this no favors, but it’s balanced enough to enjoy without. Final Thoughts: Thomas H. Handy provides a lovely balance between spicy and sweet, earthy and herbaceous, with a remarkably cohesive palate. Another delicious whiskey from Buffalo Trace, although the finish was so spot-on for Luden’s cherry cough drops that I found it a little distracting. Score: 90/100 [SHOP FOR A BOTTLE OF THOMAS H. HANDY]
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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