Sazerac Rye 18 Year (Fall 2021)

Neat. Bar pour. First time tasting any Saz 18. On the nose, the 18 years comes across as a musty log cabin. Even has some moss growing on the walls. There is a lot of sweetness resting underneath. The rye comes across like a peppercorn mixture. Going back to the sweetness, it is a sweet cream vanilla frosting primarily. Slight hint of dark chocolate. I really enjoy the musty oak. I keep going back to that note. Really makes me want to be in an old wood cabin, nestled by a fire. On the taste, mouthfeel is thin. I was hoping it would come across as more oily like a Lost Prophet but it’s thin. Not a whole lot going on initially either. Sugared mint leaves. Mid-palate it is all rye. And strangely it doesn’t taste like an ultra aged rye mid palate (the comes later but not 18 years worth still). Rye, vanilla. The finish is the most interesting part. Those oils finally come into play. It’s really tannic though. The finish is mint chocolate chip and then dry wood chips. Then the tannic nature takes over, a bit unpleasant. First Eagle Rare 17 and now this. No desire to own a bottle of this if this is the experience. I do not enjoy it. Rather have Michters 10 Rye by a mile off memory. It’s an expensive pour ($40) but great knowledge if ever faced with a choice to buy one versus something else.