Thomas H. Handy Sazerac Rye (Fall 2014)

Nose: Heaps of dried fruits – persimmon, apricots, figs, raisons, cranberries and prunes laced with caramelized spices – ginger nutmeg and cinnamon. Some dried red apple slices, like you get at Trader Joes. Old dried, dusty leather saddle from an even older barn. Their is this interesting clay like, Destin baby ointment note that is noticeable, kind of medicinal. Dried tomato dust, fresh cotton balls, calcium tablets and this leadiness, a distinct minerality comes on the back nose. Some overripe banana pops out too. Vanilla and new oak is definitly their too at the end which is interesting considering the old leathered qualites of this rye. Some fruit leather rollup snacks from my childhood come out of the glass also. Overall theirs a very chalky, musty texture to the nose. Great nostalgic stuff and I’m not even into the palate. ______________________________________________________________________________________________ Palate: Dry. Bone dry. Then bursting yellow fruits cut through with some plush leather. More dried apple turns to black crushed pepper. Although their is weight to this whiskey, it posses a medium body. At just six years old, this tastes much older. Smokey rye notes make themselves heard. Molasses and dark caramel with medium spices on the tongue. From the nose, the dusty qualities follow through – this drinks like a dusty old book. Menthol tannins play with now more older tasting oak. Rye bread with dried dates and figs. Just a beautiful balance of dried fruits and soft, dusty, leathery textures, I really can’t describe this whiskey any other way than that. Just before the finish the menthol turns medicinal on the back. Very rich mouthfeel. ______________________________________________________________________________________________ Finish: Very long. The typical rye and black pepper spices linger w menthol and a little of the Desitin sticks around. Some sawdust/lumber qualities trail with an earthy blackberry concentration. Complex for a finish. Apricot jam, dates, scallops and a black cherry syrupy-ness. Theirs a slight plasticity that almost compliments the rye spices rounding out the finish as light smoke echoes and the dried fruits, having come full circle from nose to finish- they just trail and trail….you’ll be tasting this for up to 10 minutes after your last sip. ______________________________________________________________________________________________ Bourbon and House Rating: 95.5 _______________________________________________ www.bourbonandhouse.com

Hot! Super-tannic! Looong