Thomas H Handy Antique Collection 2015 Edition Sazerac Straight Rye Whiskey 6 Year Old · 2009 Vintage

Thomas H. Handy Sazerac Straight Rye Whiskey is one of the most distinctive releases from Buffalo Trace Distillery’s Antique Collection, bottled in the fall of 2015 from rye distilled in the spring of 2009. Drawn from 58 hand-picked barrels and released unfiltered at 126.9 proof, this small batch Kentucky straight rye was bottled at 6 years and 2 months old, giving it plenty of intensity while still keeping the freshness and drive that make Handy so appealing. Matured in new white oak barrels with a #4 char, it delivers a powerful, full-bodied take on rye, shaped by Buffalo Trace’s traditional double distillation and sour mash production.

The mash bill is led by Minnesota rye, supported by Kentucky corn and North Dakota malted barley, giving the whiskey both spice and structure. There is real weight here, but also plenty of detail, with fig, clove and allspice at the core of the profile. That combination of dark fruit, warming spice and uncut strength makes this a particularly bold and characterful release, and a strong example of why Thomas H. Handy remains such a sought-after rye each year.