BOTM 10/10: Sazerac Rye

[cas]

It doesn't have much of an edge to it, which I tend to like, but even so this is among my favorites. Especially good in a Sazerac cocktail.

Craig

[Josh]

I was shockedyestersay. I was at a pub in Detroit enjoying $2.50 glasses of Oberon with friends, when lo and behold behind the bar I spied a bottle of Sazerac Rye! That was a first for me, in Michigan anyway. If I hadn't had places to go, I would have ordered one.

[Gillman]

Sazerac rye is good, always, with a distinctive grassy note. However recently I was surprised at the quality of a current bottling of Old Overholt. It was full-flavored, soft and with good length and more importantly (to me), the yeasty-licorice signature was dampened in favour of fruity notes, like lemon drops or red berries. A fine dumping and I wish I could get more.

Gary

[WIMARIPA]

In my opinion Baby Saz is a perfectly serviceable rye that just has no place for me. It just doesn't stand up to mixing and there are better sippers out there. I'm currently enjoying Handy or Rittenhouse BIB with a bit of water.

[BluesDaddy]

I was shockedyestersay. I was at a pub in Detroit enjoying $2.50 glasses of Oberon with friends, when lo and behold behind the bar I spied a bottle of Sazerac Rye! That was a first for me, in Michigan anyway. If I hadn't had places to go, I would have ordered one.

Nice! At $2.50 a glass, you can drink a lot of Oberon!!

[OscarV]

I was at a pub in Detroit enjoying $2.50 glasses of Oberon

Nice! At $2.50 a glass, you can drink a lot of Oberon!!

It's October, that's why they are giving it away.

I only call for one in May and June.

[Josh]

It's October, that's why they are giving it away.

I only call for one in May and June.

Me too, except when they're $2.50.:grin:

[Bourbon Boiler]

Bought my first ever Saz Rye in Western Penn on Monday on my way to a hockey game. I'll open this weekend and give it a try. It was $25, so I figured it was worth a try, being the current BOTM and one I hadn't sipped before. If it's terrible, it won't be the most expensive mistake of my life.

[ODaniel]

I've still never had a Rye. I've been eying the Sazerac for a long time. I wish I could have afforded the 18yr that came and went, and the Handy. I always end up getting bourbon instead. This may have to be my next bottle.

[Gillman]

I really would consider buying Old Overholt or Jim Beam rye. These ryes are much improved in recent years. Rittenhouse Bonded is excellent and well-priced, but the former ones mentioned, while not getting a lot of attention on the board, are excellent values.

Gary

[raquel]

I got a bottle of Sazerac about six months ago because I love the look of the bottle, and I was hoping I'd really like it and want to put it on my bar. This has to be the only whiskey that I can easily recognize by the smell and instantly know exactly what I'm drinking by the taste.

It tastes like nutty banana bread to me, which isn't a bad thing, but then hits me with a really funky sour bitter taste -- like a rum cake gone bad. It seems to have so much potential, but ends up being the most terrible thing I have in the cabinet. Nothing about it really says "rye" to me, either. I can pick out more of a distinctive rye taste in most bourbons than this.

Most stuff that I don't like I can just mix with Coke or ginger ale to get rid of, but the Sazerac tastes awful to me even if I try to cover it up.

Maybe I just got a bad bottle.

[Bourbon Boiler]

Tried it for the first time today. Very drinkable, but nothing special for me. I act like an expert when I have friends over, so it will be good to have a rye for them to sample, but that's probably the extent of the value for me.

[White Dog]

For Baby Saz, the finish is so medicinal and off-putting, it sends me running for WT101Rye every time. I keep retrying, since some days it's passable, but in the end I'm not a fan.

Saz 18 is quite good, but a bit tired. Given the wonderful examples of fully mature Rye such as Hirsch, Vintage, and Black Maple, I don't understand why anyone would tank a Rye. If you're not bottling, leave it in barrel for god's sake, and be glad that you have old Rye in barrel.

[Luna56]

I haven't had any off-putting flavors in the finish in any Saz I've had, sorry you aren't digging it. Baby Saz is one of my faves, and I find it to be an incredible value as well.

I hear you about the tanking, wtf? Maybe warehouse space is at a premium. A damn shame to take good rye out of a barrel and tank it.

Cheers!

[humchan2k]

Could not disagree more strongly with the gent who suggest Overholt or Beam Rye. Those two, in my humble estimation, are the most worthless ryes on the market, bar none. The Beam rye doesn't taste a damn thing like rye (too sweet, just like normal white label Beam) and Overholt tastes like sweaty socks...it has a mold/foul flavor, though it does smell decent enough.

See my other post, newcomer to rye, if you want to try something excellent, not break the bank and find out if you actually LIKE rye whiskey, go grab a bottle of Pikesville for $12-15...you can thank me later...it's the same juice as Rittenhouse BiB, just a younger expression.

I hope you'll join the rye army, my friend...I have actually largely left bourbon behind and am now drinking rye about 90% of the time.

[White Dog]

Could not disagree more strongly with the gent who suggest Overholt or Beam Rye. Those two, in my humble estimation, are the most worthless ryes on the market, bar none. The Beam rye doesn't taste a damn thing like rye (too sweet, just like normal white label Beam) and Overholt tastes like sweaty socks...it has a mold/foul flavor, though it does smell decent enough.

See my other post, newcomer to rye, if you want to try something excellent, not break the bank and find out if you actually LIKE rye whiskey, go grab a bottle of Pikesville for $12-15...you can thank me later...it's the same juice as Rittenhouse BiB, just a younger expression.

I hope you'll join the rye army, my friend...I have actually largely left bourbon behind and am now drinking rye about 90% of the time.

[Shell]

Yes, Pikesville Rye is a very nice rye and a great value. Unfortunately, it is only available in 4 or 5 states.

I have become a real fan of rye whiskey and have several favorites (including Sazerac Rye). I seem to favor those made with 90% to 100% rye.

Does anyone know which ryes are produced in the U.S. with a 100% rye mashbill?

Thanks,

Shell

[White Dog]

Yes, Pikesville Rye is a very nice rye and a great value. Unfortunately, it is only available in 4 or 5 states.

I have become a real fan of rye whiskey and have several favorites (including Sazerac Rye). I seem to favor those made with 90% to 100% rye.

Does anyone know which ryes are produced in the U.S. with a 100% rye mashbill?

Thanks,

Shell

Old Potrero, Koval, and Whistlepig(Canadian) are all 100% Rye mashbill. Also, all the LDI distilled Rye is 95% Rye. This would include younger ryes under Michter's, Rendezvous, Templeton, and Willet 2yr Rye. I'm sure there is other LDI Rye out there, as well.

[Shell]

White Dog, thanks very much for the information. I am a huge fan of a high rye content.

Grand Traverse Distillery's Ole George Whiskey is distilled from a 100% rye mashbill (a relatively new distillery in northern MI). (I have yet to try it.)

I had heard that Templeton Rye is now distilling their own whiskey in Indiana and their web site now indicates a 90% Rye / 10% barley mashbill.

Templeton Rye is a great rye whiskey, as is High West Rendezvous Rye (High West states that it is a blend of a 6-year-old (95%) rye and a 16-year old (80%) rye). I have heard that High West is a LDI distilled Rye as well.

The Russell's Reserve Rye is a realy good 6-year Rye - but their web site is silent on the mashbill. I guess that its rye content may be lower than 90%?

Shell

[Shell]

... RittBiB is older than Pikesville, but not by much, but it's also 100proof, and having had Pikesville, Ritt80, and RittBiB, I feel that they all show quite differently. As for quality, RittBiB is leagues ahead of the others mentioned. The problem is finding it on the shelf.

When I contacted Heaven Hill Distillery about where to find Pikesville Rye (unfortunately only in 4-5 states), they told me the following: Rittenhouse is aged 4 years and Pikesville is aged 3 years. Pikesville used to be aged for 4 years, but they went to the 3 year age in response to the high demand for Pikesville.

(If there is a high demand, I wonder why they don't distribute this really good rye in more states? ...)

Shell

[White Dog]

White Dog, thanks very much for the information. I am a huge fan of a high rye content.

Grand Traverse Distillery's Ole George Whiskey is distilled from a 100% rye mashbill (a relatively new distillery in northern MI). (I have yet to try it.)

I had heard that Templeton Rye is now distilling their own whiskey in Indiana and their web site now indicates a 90% Rye / 10% barley mashbill.

Templeton Rye is a great rye whiskey, as is High West Rendezvous Rye (High West states that it is a blend of a 6-year-old (95%) rye and a 16-year old (80%) rye). I have heard that High West is a LDI distilled Rye as well.

The Russell's Reserve Rye is a realy good 6-year Rye - but their web site is silent on the mashbill. I guess that its rye content may be lower than 90%?

Shell

Based on how Templeton has played fast and loose with facts, I wouldn't believe anything on their website.

As for Russell's, it's the standard Turkey Rye mashbill, which I would guess is only 55 to 60% Rye. Try the Wild Turkey 101 Rye, as it's much better, IMHO.

[squire]

I like Saz but it doesn't fill any opening in my lineup. Locally it is priced as a premium so I'll pass in favor of Turkey, Overholt or Beam.

[Josh]

I like Saz but it doesn't fill any opening in my lineup. Locally it is priced as a premium so I'll pass in favor of Turkey, Overholt or Beam.

How much does it run there?

[squire]

Depends on the store, between $25-$30 but I'll have to check to be more precise.

[Shell]

Depends on the store, between $25-$30 but I'll have to check to be more precise.

The $25 to $30 price (750 ml bottle) is the range that I have seen on various web sites that do mail order sales, as well as Binny's in Chicago. Here in MI, Sazerac Rye 6 yr. old is priced at $26.99 (the state minimum price), plus 6% sales tax. Many MI liquor stores are selling spirits at the state minimum price.

Enjoy.