Thomas H. Handy Sazerac Rye (Fall 2019)

Haven’t had a handy this good since the first time I went to Shaboom’s.

Super heavy rye

Something is off with this year’s THH batch. Earthy, herbal, medicinal, bitterness. Not close to previous years standard.

For my 150th tasting, I’m happy to finally get to try this one. I have the regular Sazerac Rye (baby Saz), which is the same mashbill as this one, just a much lower proof (90 proof). Let’s check out this 6 year old 125.7 proof version of Buffalo Trace’s rye mashbill. The nose has rich baking spices (especially cinnamon and clove) that pop out, followed by caramel, freshly baked bread, light leather, toasted marshmallows, and cooked red apples. Not a ton of rye specific spice coming out in the nose, just the tiniest bit. After the first sip, further nosing bring out this very strange cardboard box note, very weird. The palate is semi-sweet has a rich oily mouthfeel. The rye spice defiantly comes out here along with vanilla, apples, caramel and leather. On later tastings, that cardboard box note I got in the nose becomes present, but like a slightly sour cardboard box. Weird. The finish tingles in the tip and front sides of the tongue with rye and vanilla hanging out for a bit with a slight bitterness on the back end. I really like this one. But that obscure cardboard box note that didn’t become present until after the 1st sip or so is boggling my mind. It doesn’t ruin it for me, but it is very odd and something I’ve never experienced.