SAZERAC COMPANY OF NEW ORLEANS INTRODUCES FLAGSHIP

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CONTACT: Charlotte Conner-Plute

Brand Manager

Ph: 504-830-5734

Email: cconner@sazerac.com

For Immediate Release

SAZERAC COMPANY OF NEW ORLEANS INTRODUCES FLAGSHIP BRAND

Sazerac Rye Whiskey - “The Spirit of New Orleans”

New Orleans, LA –After a 116-year absence from the market, the Sazerac Company of New Orleans is pleased to reintroduce its Sazerac Rye Whiskey, bottled in the original late 1800’s package. This whiskey has been eight years in the making and once again joins the Sazerac family to represent the true “Spirit of New Orleans.”

The Sazerac Company is one of the oldest family-owned companies in New Orleans, dating back to 1850 and the coffeehouse of the same name. It was at the Sazerac Coffeehouse that rye whiskey grew in popularity as the primary ingredient of America’s first cocktail—“The Sazerac.” This historic cocktail included rye whiskey along with Peychaud’s Bitters, Herbsaint Absinthe Liqueur and a lump of sugar. Today the Sazerac Company proudly owns, makes and distributes Peychaud’s Bitters, Herbsaint, and Sazerac Rye Whiskey.

Sazerac Rye is distilled, aged and hand-bottled at the Sazerac Company’s award-winning Buffalo Trace Distillery. Each bottle from the initial production run of 1,000 bottles has been specially numbered. As with the other whiskies of Buffalo Trace Distillery, the utmost care has been taken in the production of Sazerac Rye and it is some of the finest whiskey the distillery has to offer.

“We began aging the whiskey for Sazerac Rye in 1998 and after seven summers this whiskey is at a perfect age for drinking. With resurgent demand for American Rye Whiskey and classic cocktails, we believe our limited supply will sell out very quickly,” said Charlotte Conner-Plute, Brand Manager.

The reintroduction of Sazerac Rye coincides with the Ogden Museum of Southern Arts publication of Phillip Collier’s Missing New Orleans, with text by J. Richard Gruber, Jim Rapier and Mary Beth Romig, a foreword by Pete Fountain and photography in the Katrina epilogue by David Rae Morris. This book pays tribute to New Orleans’ rich traditions and history. The book also includes a chronicle of the history of the Sazerac Company in New Orleans.

Sazerac Rye will debut in selected markets early 2006 selling for approximately $20.00 per 750ml bottle. For more information on Sazerac Rye, please email Charlotte Conner-Plute at cconner@sazerac.com.

For more information on the history of the Sazerac Company and “America’s First Cocktail” go to www.sazerac.com.

About The Sazerac Company

Sazerac is one of New Orleans oldest family owned, privately held companies and has operations in New Orleans, Louisiana; Franklin County, Kentucky; Fredericksburg, Virginia and Loomis, California. For more information, please visit www.sazerac.com.

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