ChainWhip Posted January 10, 2013 Share Posted January 10, 2013 (edited) Found this from John Hansell: That Sazarac Rye 18 yr. prototype is the best bottle of rye whiskey I have ever tasted! I'm hoping this rye expression sees the light of day in a release for the mortals! Edited January 10, 2013 by ChainWhip Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
squire Posted January 10, 2013 Share Posted January 10, 2013 Elegant simplicity. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RWBadley Posted January 10, 2013 Share Posted January 10, 2013 Wow, sign me up! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
p_elliott Posted January 10, 2013 Share Posted January 10, 2013 And I thought the BTAC Saz 18 was hard to come by I bet this is going to be a killer and expensive too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
luther.r Posted January 10, 2013 Share Posted January 10, 2013 I had assumed since he called it a prototype and Saz 18 has been out for a while that this is something he got a long time ago, prior to Saz 18's release. I've been wrong before though... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
squire Posted January 10, 2013 Share Posted January 10, 2013 I'm sure it will be Paul, and worth it. We know who made it and if we ask politely I expect Harlen will tell us the mashbill, approximate age, aging conditions and barrel entry proof. Those are things that influence my decision to pay a premium. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HighHorse Posted January 10, 2013 Share Posted January 10, 2013 Wow! Hansell saying it's probably the best rye he's ever tasted?! Having had the 21 year old High West on Sunday and the Saz 18 last night ... that's the golden grail! Will be doing a barrel selection with Harlen in April and will darn sure try and get near this one! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
White Dog Posted January 10, 2013 Share Posted January 10, 2013 Yet another honey barrel that gets sent to Hansell for a glowing review, but the final blend that we will pay thru the nose for, if we can find it, will be a different whiskey. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
squire Posted January 10, 2013 Share Posted January 10, 2013 I'll reserve judgment until a bottle is available to taste and let the whisky speak for itself. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michaelturtle1 Posted January 10, 2013 Share Posted January 10, 2013 I was under the impression that saz18 was tanked? So unless this is a totally different barreling of rye that means this would be the same as what is currently offered just "tank" strength? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beer&Bourbon Posted January 10, 2013 Share Posted January 10, 2013 I would gladly welcome the same expression at a higher proof. Saz18 is certainly on my short list of favorite ryes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
squire Posted January 10, 2013 Share Posted January 10, 2013 May well be, the higher strength would change the flavor profile a bit though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tanstaafl2 Posted January 10, 2013 Share Posted January 10, 2013 I was under the impression that saz18 was tanked? So unless this is a totally different barreling of rye that means this would be the same as what is currently offered just "tank" strength? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
squire Posted January 10, 2013 Share Posted January 10, 2013 Tanked or barreled is fine with me, just pass the bottle. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trey Manthey Posted January 10, 2013 Share Posted January 10, 2013 This "prototype" is apparently what eventually became Saz18. Don't get too hyped up lads. I'll bet a bottle of 2010 Saz18 this never sees a store shelf, as I don't think it was ever intended to be a product. Just a test. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
squire Posted January 10, 2013 Share Posted January 10, 2013 Could be Trey, I wouldn't disagree, do wonder though why they went to the trouble to get label approval if it's a one off. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trey Manthey Posted January 10, 2013 Share Posted January 10, 2013 Could be Trey, I wouldn't disagree, do wonder though why they went to the trouble to get label approval if it's a one off.If you show me a COLA label filing I'll change my tune.But to me that looks like a label printed up at the BT Tasting Lab, for the purpose of sending out an industry sample. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HighHorse Posted January 10, 2013 Share Posted January 10, 2013 18 years is one hell of a test. What would they be testing? They have to know it's primo .. and to see Hansel saying it's the best he's ever had ... doesn't make sense that they would be sending it out .. knowing that there would likely be a public comment unless they had some plans for it. It's already seen the light of day now ... the question becomes when and how much? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
squire Posted January 10, 2013 Share Posted January 10, 2013 Thought there was a COLA, or maybe I saw the word on the same blog page. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trey Manthey Posted January 10, 2013 Share Posted January 10, 2013 18 years is one hell of a test. What would they be testing? They have to know it's primo .. and to see Hansel saying it's the best he's ever had ... doesn't make sense that they would be sending it out .. knowing that there would likely be a public comment unless they had some plans for it. It's already seen the light of day now ... the question becomes when and how much?That's the thing...I don't think this is new. My assumption is that this was the PROTOTYPE for what we now know as Saz18. I think JH just dipped into his library of OLD samples and found it, and decided to share/brag. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
luther.r Posted January 10, 2013 Share Posted January 10, 2013 That's the thing...I don't think this is new. My assumption is that this was the PROTOTYPE for what we now know as Saz18. I think JH just dipped into his library of OLD samples and found it, and decided to share/brag.Right, this was my assumption.I just found John Hansell's tweet from 12/30/12 and this is the original text:"What I'm drinking tonight: the prototype to what is now the legendary Sazerac 18 yr. rye whiskey. But 110.2 proof!" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
squire Posted January 10, 2013 Share Posted January 10, 2013 Then apparently Sazerac believed this would show better than a 90 proofer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
luther.r Posted January 10, 2013 Share Posted January 10, 2013 Or they just hadn't decided yet what proof they would be bottling it at. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
squire Posted January 10, 2013 Share Posted January 10, 2013 Lower proof always means higher profit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChainWhip Posted January 10, 2013 Author Share Posted January 10, 2013 A few of questions I have:Is this the tanked Saz18 @ a higher proof (same as current BTAC) or is it new rye that BT has been sitting on for the past 18yrs?If the latter, is it just older BabySaz/THH or something else?Finally, what I really want to know is if there are any plans to make this a real product offering? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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