Sazerac Rye similar to THH?

[Bourbon Fanatic]

Hey gang!

 

Once again, I turn to the immense knowledge this group brings...

 

I was able to secure a THH from Bevmo just recently (all of my first choices were sold out) and I couldn't pass up the opportunity to get another BTAC this year.

 

My concern is, I've never really had a rye (aside from a few high rye bourbons such as OGD114 etc) before. Before popping the cork to this I'd like to try something comparable to decide if I should trade this to someone on a local bourbon lover Facebook page.

 

I'm wondering if the normal Sazerac rye is comparable to THH? If it is and I like it, I'll open the THH, if it's not my cup of tea, I'd rather trade it to someone who loves ryes for something I'm sure I'd like. Win-win!!

 

Let me know what everyone thinks. (Even though I know I'm going to get all is the "you should just open it" posts)

 

Cheers!

[Radioyada]

Newp. Not in my opinion. Tried the Sazerac rye and did not like it at all. Now the THH, that one is fantastic. Handy is one of the very few ryes that I like, and am glad to have gotten a bottle this year myself. 

[Kane]

Nothing compares to THH!

[EarthQuake]

Baby Saz is a middling affordable rye best suited to cocktails in my mind. It's not bad for $30, but it's particularly noteworthy. It's smooth and perfectly drinkable, not particularly objectionable in any way but not very interesting either.

 

Now, THH on the other hand is a beast, one of the best ryes you could have picked up. Though some do not care for it. In any case I wouldn't base a decision to try THH on Baby Saz.

[FasterHorses]

I just returned my THH today as I couldn't justify the $180. This thread makes me second guess my decision. The LS owner said he will get me the same or a Van Winkle 15 next year for MSRP.  

[EarthQuake]

$180 is a bit much for THH I think, despite the fact that it sells for double that on the secondary. At $80 or whatever MSRP is though it's a no brainer.

 

Pikesville is real good at $50, and WhistlePig 10 store pick barrel proofs even better at $80, on par with THH in my mind.

[smokinjoe]

1 hour ago, Bourbon Fanatic said:

Hey gang!

 

Once again, I turn to the immense knowledge this group brings...

 

I was able to secure a THH from Bevmo just recently (all of my first choices were sold out) and I couldn't pass up the opportunity to get another BTAC this year.

 

My concern is, I've never really had a rye (aside from a few high rye bourbons such as OGD114 etc) before. Before popping the cork to this I'd like to try something comparable to decide if I should trade this to someone on a local bourbon lover Facebook page.

 

I'm wondering if the normal Sazerac rye is comparable to THH? If it is and I like it, I'll open the THH, if it's not my cup of tea, I'd rather trade it to someone who loves ryes for something I'm sure I'd like. Win-win!!

 

Let me know what everyone thinks. (Even though I know I'm going to get all is the "you should just open it" posts)

 

Cheers!

Forego the sample swaps, the trades, the PMs, the sales; stop buying for buying sake and bourbon currency, and just buy to drink, learn, and experience one step at a time.  

 

THH is great whiskey.

[0895]

2 hours ago, FasterHorses said:

I just returned my THH today

you obviously have the flu or something that is altering your judgement. 

 

also, your liquor store moved their returns dept. to my house just recently.  PM for RMA authorization #. 

Edited December 20, 2017 by 0895

[Bbstout]

Very different ryes.

[Charlutz]

THH is one of my favorites. If you want something to compare what it’s sorta like, try Pikesville 110. Or go to a bar with THH. 

[Bourserker]

I've had THH and the normal Sazerac 6 year.  I haven't done a side by side, but my recollection is that I was surprised these 2 whiskies are related, much less the same whiskey at different proofs.  They both taste totally different.  The Sazerac for me was just ho hum, and THH on the other hand is one of my all time favorites.   I have a bottle of each sitting around, so I may have to do a side by side here at some point.

[Whiskeythink.com]

Ive had lots of Baby Saz, but unfortunately never had THH. But I would suggest not being in a hurry to use it as trade bait. Nor do you need to be in a hurry to open it. Start trying different ryes, & make a decision down the road after you have opened up your tastes to different ryes. If you find you like ryes, chances are you'll love it judging by popular sentiment. If you find rye just doesnt do it for you, THH will always be valuable trade bait.

[Bourbon Fanatic]

2 hours ago, Bourserker said:

I've had THH and the normal Sazerac 6 year.  I haven't done a side by side, but my recollection is that I was surprised these 2 whiskies are related, much less the same whiskey at different proofs.  They both taste totally different.  The Sazerac for me was just ho hum, and THH on the other hand is one of my all time favorites.   I have a bottle of each sitting around, so I may have to do a side by side here at some point.

When you do the SBS, try to do it blind and let me know the results. I'm very interested 

 

Cheers!

[BigSkyDrams]

26 minutes ago, Bourbon Fanatic said:

When you do the SBS, try to do it blind and let me know the results. I'm very interested 

 

Cheers!

While I’d be interested to read a comparison as well, the THH is like 40 proof points higher than Baby Saz, no? Seems like doing it blind will be rather futile unless the THH is significantly diluted, which would probably change the character significantly and mute a lot of the flavor. 

[BottledInBond]

A lot of comments that THH is good whiskey and that THH and Baby Saz taste different, but I’ll add a little bit about what tastes so different about them. 

 

Baby Saz tastes like a very average barely legal Kentucky rye to me. It underwhelms me and the biggest selling points to me are that it is very approachable for introducing new people to rye, and the bottle looks pretty cool on your bar. It is nothing like the MGP rye that is in so many labels these days. Unlikely to offend anyone is like a compliment here as this is ultimately a fairly bland bottle. 

 

THH is a spice bomb..... year’s vary but it tends to offer a palate that includes nutmeg/clove/cinnamon in spades. It is a sensory experience that really makes you stop and ponder how that much flavor comes from a small pour. It certainly can overwhelm some and there is no shame in adding a little water or a cube. 

 

It has always seemed clear to me that THH is not as simple as “barrel proof Baby Saz”. For one, there is no age statement currently on the Baby Saz, so the current bottling probably isn’t all 6 or more years old anymore (additionally, BT took the 6 year reference off their website now, which had previously been on that site). BT does state on the BTAC fact sheet that the THH is more than 6 year’s old, so in general we know the THH juice is a little older. Of course the THH is barrel proof, but there is also an element of barrel selection that factors in, as we can certainly assume they keep the best available barrels for THH/Saz18 and the leftovers go into Baby Saz. Then there is the fact that Baby Saz is chill filtered, and THH is not. Those factors all together make the two whiskies vastly different from each other, even though they are obviously related.

 

[Bourserker]

2 hours ago, BigSkyDrams said:

While I’d be interested to read a comparison as well, the THH is like 40 proof points higher than Baby Saz, no? Seems like doing it blind will be rather futile unless the THH is significantly diluted, which would probably change the character significantly and mute a lot of the flavor. 

Yeah, good point...wasn't thinking of the proof differential in the SBS.   Guess I won't bother wit it then.

[BigSkyDrams]

4 minutes ago, Bourserker said:

Yeah, good point...wasn't thinking of the proof differential in the SBS.   Guess I won't bother wit it then.

SBS is still probably a valuable

exercise, I just think doing so blind it will be obvious which is which immediately.

Edited December 20, 2017 by BigSkyDrams

[Bourbonmakesmepoop]

I'm going to have to disagree, I think baby saz has a lot of the same flavor as THH just tastes a little watered down. But that’s just me

[Kane]

And here I was about to post: I can totally see the BabySaz becoming Saz18 with age, but THH tastes like an entirely different thing (and the best rye all around for me). Obviously everybody has vastly different opinions here, so the only solution is to drink them ryes all.

[flahute]

9 hours ago, BottledInBond said:

A lot of comments that THH is good whiskey and that THH and Baby Saz taste different, but I’ll add a little bit about what tastes so different about them. 

 

Baby Saz tastes like a very average barely legal Kentucky rye to me. It underwhelms me and the biggest selling points to me are that it is very approachable for introducing new people to rye, and the bottle looks pretty cool on your bar. It is nothing like the MGP rye that is in so many labels these days. Unlikely to offend anyone is like a compliment here as this is ultimately a fairly bland bottle. 

 

THH is a spice bomb..... year’s vary but it tends to offer a palate that includes nutmeg/clove/cinnamon in spades. It is a sensory experience that really makes you stop and ponder how that much flavor comes from a small pour. It certainly can overwhelm some and there is no shame in adding a little water or a cube. 

 

It has always seemed clear to me that THH is not as simple as “barrel proof Baby Saz”. For one, there is no age statement currently on the Baby Saz, so the current bottling probably isn’t all 6 or more years old anymore (additionally, BT took the 6 year reference off their website now, which had previously been on that site). BT does state on the BTAC fact sheet that the THH is more than 6 year’s old, so in general we know the THH juice is a little older. Of course the THH is barrel proof, but there is also an element of barrel selection that factors in, as we can certainly assume they keep the best available barrels for THH/Saz18 and the leftovers go into Baby Saz. Then there is the fact that Baby Saz is chill filtered, and THH is not. Those factors all together make the two whiskies vastly different from each other, even though they are obviously related.

 

This is an excellent summation right here.

 

To the OP - I'd suggest finding a bar that has it and trying it. I think you will be pleased by what you taste.

[Bbstout]

9 hours ago, BottledInBond said:

A lot of comments that THH is good whiskey and that THH and Baby Saz taste different, but I’ll add a little bit about what tastes so different about them. 

 

Baby Saz tastes like a very average barely legal Kentucky rye to me. It underwhelms me and the biggest selling points to me are that it is very approachable for introducing new people to rye, and the bottle looks pretty cool on your bar. It is nothing like the MGP rye that is in so many labels these days. Unlikely to offend anyone is like a compliment here as this is ultimately a fairly bland bottle. 

 

THH is a spice bomb..... year’s vary but it tends to offer a palate that includes nutmeg/clove/cinnamon in spades. It is a sensory experience that really makes you stop and ponder how that much flavor comes from a small pour. It certainly can overwhelm some and there is no shame in adding a little water or a cube. 

 

It has always seemed clear to me that THH is not as simple as “barrel proof Baby Saz”. For one, there is no age statement currently on the Baby Saz, so the current bottling probably isn’t all 6 or more years old anymore (additionally, BT took the 6 year reference off their website now, which had previously been on that site). BT does state on the BTAC fact sheet that the THH is more than 6 year’s old, so in general we know the THH juice is a little older. Of course the THH is barrel proof, but there is also an element of barrel selection that factors in, as we can certainly assume they keep the best available barrels for THH/Saz18 and the leftovers go into Baby Saz. Then there is the fact that Baby Saz is chill filtered, and THH is not. Those factors all together make the two whiskies vastly different from each other, even though they are obviously related.

 

Good info ....the NCF is something I overlooked and probably adds a lot to the flavor difference. I like how the market is moving towards Higher Proof/NCF albeit at a premium price.

[tanstaafl2]

On ‎12‎/‎20‎/‎2017 at 2:31 PM, BottledInBond said:

A lot of comments that THH is good whiskey and that THH and Baby Saz taste different, but I’ll add a little bit about what tastes so different about them. 

 

Baby Saz tastes like a very average barely legal Kentucky rye to me. It underwhelms me and the biggest selling points to me are that it is very approachable for introducing new people to rye, and the bottle looks pretty cool on your bar. It is nothing like the MGP rye that is in so many labels these days. Unlikely to offend anyone is like a compliment here as this is ultimately a fairly bland bottle. 

 

THH is a spice bomb..... year’s vary but it tends to offer a palate that includes nutmeg/clove/cinnamon in spades. It is a sensory experience that really makes you stop and ponder how that much flavor comes from a small pour. It certainly can overwhelm some and there is no shame in adding a little water or a cube. 

 

It has always seemed clear to me that THH is not as simple as “barrel proof Baby Saz”. For one, there is no age statement currently on the Baby Saz, so the current bottling probably isn’t all 6 or more years old anymore (additionally, BT took the 6 year reference off their website now, which had previously been on that site). BT does state on the BTAC fact sheet that the THH is more than 6 year’s old, so in general we know the THH juice is a little older. Of course the THH is barrel proof, but there is also an element of barrel selection that factors in, as we can certainly assume they keep the best available barrels for THH/Saz18 and the leftovers go into Baby Saz. Then there is the fact that Baby Saz is chill filtered, and THH is not. Those factors all together make the two whiskies vastly different from each other, even though they are obviously related.

 

 

16 hours ago, flahute said:

This is an excellent summation right here.

 

I agree that it is a nice summation. Curiously as to the 6 year age statement BT may have taken it off their webpage but Sazerac has not. But if it is not on printed on the bottle I tend to be suspicious about whether it is in fact the age claimed.

 

Which ultimately matters little if you like what you are drinking from the bottle. But still, this one has always been a bit mysterious.