In need of a little guidance from the group

[MissinER101]

Through a cyber buddy with a contact in the biz I should have 3 bottles of GTS waiting when I get home. But after reading this forum I have gotten interested in some of the other members of the Buffalo Trace Antique Collection; particularly the ryes.

On the drive home the wife and I plan on a stop at BT and perhaps some other distilleries in the area and hopefully the BT Gift Shop will still have the Antique Collection in stock the last week of December.

What is the main difference between Sazerac Rye 18-Year-Old and Thomas H. Handy Sazerac?

I understand the Sazerac 18 is older but cut to 90 proof and I suspect cold filtered, where the Handy is uncut, unfiltered but much younger (8yrs). What is the group's opinion of the taste difference, do you prefer one over the other? Is there a significant price difference? Should I just get a bottle of each if I can?

And if I understand correctly William Larue Weller is the uncut unfiltered wheat bourbon; and I do enjoy the more mellow character of a wheater when in a mellow laid back mood and hope to snag a bottle (or 2) as well.

[ErichPryde]

William Larue Weller is not particularly mellow. or rather, there is one year that was somewhat mellow, but the others are an intense firecracker of wheaty goodness.

As for the BTAC Saz's, I'm all for Handy. It's intense stuff. A lot of people here think it is too young, but I think the taste profile is close to perfect. It doesn't taste as young as some, and it doesn't taste too old (like Saz 18 can).

I have to be in exactly the right mood for Saz 18. Most of the time it has this sickly-sweet, chloroform/anti-freeze & surgical steel type scent going on for me.

It does make a really good addition in a sazerac cocktail, though. But I'd pass it up for Handy any day of the week.

[White Dog]

Handy has many detractors in this site, mainly due to age/price, but I'm not one of them. I actually dislike Baby Saz, and I have cut Handy down in proof while drinking Baby Saz at the same time, and I feel that there's no comparison. The barrels that are being used for Handy are choice, IMHO.

My real addiction is older Rye, and while I do like Saz 18, on some nights it comes off as a bit tame compared to other favorites of mine. The 2009 Saz18 is tasting a bit tired to my right now. VWFRR, Hirsch 22, and Vintage 21 pack more of the spicy/angry wallop I'm looking for in aged Rye. If you can find Van Winkle Rye, I highly recommend it.

In the end, I think you have to buy both to see for yourself. (And don't forget to pick up WT101 for when you're feeling frugal.)

[CorvallisCracker]

...the Handy is uncut, unfiltered but much younger (8yrs).

Six years.

I think one of the earlier releases was eight, but most, including the current, are just six.

[The Boozer]

Make that 3 for the Handy over the Saz 18. At 90 proof, too much wood comes through on the Saz 18, detracting from spicy flavors. I usually cut the Handy with some water or ice (I let the ice melt and give the whiskey some air time in the glass) and the flavors become more prominent and up front. I find this try of all the uncut BTAC, (Stagg & Weller). Drinking neat the alcohol overpowers the flavors. The six years is irrelevant, its what's in the bottle that counts. For aged rye, would go with the VWFRR.

[BigRich]

Not to answer your actual question but rather offer a word of caution. The gift shop at the distillery doesn't offer their whole line of products like a scotch distillery. The last time I was there they only had Buffalo Trace, Eagle Rare 10, and a couple other regular bottlings. I wouldn't count on picking up the Antique Collection at the distillery.

[etohchem]

The Distillery only carries ER, BT, Rain, White Dog and the BT Cream. Our liquor lisence is for operating as a gift shop not a liquor store so we don't carry the full line up.

Etohchem

[MissinER101]

Dang!!!!! I was hoping to get my hands on some of the other AC offerings; guess I'll keep it on my "hunting" list as we travel home.

[B.B. Babington]

complexity. handy is great, but saz18 seems to have more stuff in it than handy. I've got a 2001 release saz18 that is one of my top ten favs of any whiskey/whisky ever.

[jburlowski]

As others have said, i doubt if you will find any at the distillery.

As to the ryes, I'd (personally) take the THH over the Saz. The Saz has benn sitting in stainless steel tanks for several years now and is starting to show the effects.

[SMOWK]

Add another vote for Handy.

I've had a few bottles of Saz 18, and it always makes me think, "man, VWFRR is better". The Handy is different, and good enough to stand next to the VWFRR, and not under it.

[Josh]

I've given my opinion on Handy before...:deadhorse: so I won't again.

But all things being equal, I would probably pick Handy over the Saz 18 too.

[TNbourbon]

...I understand the Sazerac 18 is older but cut to 90 proof and I suspect cold filtered, where the Handy is uncut, unfiltered but much younger (8yrs). What is the group's opinion of the taste difference, do you prefer one over the other? Is there a significant price difference? Should I just get a bottle of each if I can?

And if I understand correctly William Larue Weller is the uncut unfiltered wheat bourbon; and I do enjoy the more mellow character of a wheater when in a mellow laid back mood and hope to snag a bottle (or 2) as well.

At the liquor store where I've gone back to work after an 18-month hiatus, our BTAC allocation -- presumably turned down or returned by some other store -- was one each of the Eagle Rare 17 and the William Larue Weller, so, I'm somewhat theoretical here, based on past glories, but: at $79.99 a bottle locally for the BTAC, what I would do is buy one each of Old Crow Reserve 1.75L (@ $19.99 a handle), and a Maker's Mark 46 (@ $34.99), pocket the c. $27, after-tax savings, and have a premium wheater for opening on special occasions (the MM) and a not-bottom, rye-recipe for drinking now, with pretty ordinary hope of replenishing both.

You do drink bourbon, right?:skep: :grin:

(Bless Buffalo Trace! Truly, I don't begrudge them their money for bottlings I used to buy under $40. But, they've got to understand their budget, seemingly, has increased more than mine...e,g., the government's "core inflation" doesn't include food and fuel, but my expenses do!:shocked:)

[unclebunk]

Add another vote for Handy.

I've had a few bottles of Saz 18, and it always makes me think, "man, VWFRR is better". The Handy is different, and good enough to stand next to the VWFRR, and not under it.

I'm with you on that. I like them all but your assessment is correct IMO. Funny, but Michter's 10 Single Barrel (not the US1) doesn't get a mention around here very often but that's some nice rye too, if you don't mind juice that's been long in the wood. My only qualm with the Michter's is the price is too steep. Fortunately for me I scored mine for half price!

[DeanSheen]

Handy.

I have a bottle of Saz 18 from 2007 open on my counter right now. It's my first Saz 18 and it's not bad but it's been open for a few months.

I've been through 3 bottles of Handy so far and they seem to disappear a little faster than that unless I'm really working at it. I only keep about 5 or 6 bottles open at a time so when I open stuff I drink it.

[SMOWK]

I'm with you on that. I like them all but your assessment is correct IMO. Funny, but Michter's 10 Single Barrel (not the US1) doesn't get a mention around here very often but that's some nice rye too, if you don't mind juice that's been long in the wood. My only qualm with the Michter's is the price is too steep. Fortunately for me I scored mine for half price!

I've always wanted to try the Michter's 10, but I've only seen it on the shelf 2 or 3 times. Every time, I didn't have the funds to front.

[angler82]

I've always wanted to try the Michter's 10, but I've only seen it on the shelf 2 or 3 times. Every time, I didn't have the funds to front.

[angler82]

As for the Sazerac 18 vs. Handy discussion, I like Handy better. It's my go to rye for a top shelf Manhattan.

I've only had Saz 18 a few times at a bar in Boston. It's got a complex flavor but it's still behind VW, Michter's 10, and Handy for me.