SippinJim Posted July 17, 2008 Share Posted July 17, 2008 I currently am drinking Buffalo Trace neat. I enjoy its smoothness and overall taste. Today while at my local store I spotted a bottle of Sazerac Rye so I put it in my cart. I have never tasted rye so I was wondering from those on the board; what should I expect in taste difference? I know it will not be like Buffalo Trace or any other bourbon for that matter but I thought I'd put the question out there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AVB Posted July 18, 2008 Share Posted July 18, 2008 It wopuld depend on which Sazerac you picked up. I did a review of the fall 2003 18 yo version here and there is also a 6 yo version which I haven't gotten around to reviewing yet but you can find plenty of info on either on this board. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SippinJim Posted July 21, 2008 Author Share Posted July 21, 2008 It wopuld depend on which Sazerac you picked up. I did a review of the fall 2003 18 yo version here and there is also a 6 yo version which I haven't gotten around to reviewing yet but you can find plenty of info on either on this board.It just says "Sazerac Rye Whiskey". I paid $27 for it if that helps you.Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ILLfarmboy Posted July 21, 2008 Share Posted July 21, 2008 It just says "Sazerac Rye Whiskey". I paid $27 for it if that helps you.ThanksSix years old.....Expect light carmel, subdued clove like spice and, to me, anyway, a certain damascus or "the pages of an old book" quality. Of course, your mileage may vary.If you want an amped up version, get a bottle of Thomas Handy, more everything, especially spice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SBOmarc Posted July 22, 2008 Share Posted July 22, 2008 I would add that "Saz Jr" also has the Buffalo Trace house mustiness to it. Some find it a bit offensive and difficult. I look forward to it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OldJack Posted July 22, 2008 Share Posted July 22, 2008 I just tried Saz for the first time last night, and I found it to be smooth yet spicy and wonderfully balanced. In truth, I am beginning to like rye more than bourbon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
callmeox Posted July 23, 2008 Share Posted July 23, 2008 I don't know if I like it more, but I know that I am building a strong appreciation for it. I've got four in the cabinet (Saz18 and Jr, Templeton and RR) and two more on the way (Ritt BIB and WT).I should grab another Baby Saz before Ohio runs out (just three left in the state). I could easily see that as a daily pour. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TBoner Posted October 18, 2008 Share Posted October 18, 2008 I've not been reading or posting much lately here, so forgive me if this is well-covered terrain: is there a shortage of this product right now? I ask because the local chains only have a handful of bottles on hand. I stopped into THE discount warehouse place today and the stock they had was $37 (by comparison, Weller 12 is $17 there). Is this just a confluence of a local shortage and a mispriced shelf label, or is there a true shortage on?Regards, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shoshani Posted October 19, 2008 Share Posted October 19, 2008 Baby Saz took me some getting used to, but once I did I found that it had grown on me in a big way.My previous big rye experiences were Jim Beam Rye (not really impressed), Wild Turkey (honeycomb, similar in style to the bourbon yet different), and Rittenhouse Bottled In Bond which is not only rich and flavorful but about $13 a bottle to boot, making it one of the top values in whiskey. But none of them were like Baby Saz.I keep likening Baby Saz to Irish pot still - think Redbreast or a blend high in pot still such as Powers - an immense fruity character with a bit of cool brittleness. It has a cinnamon-clove spicy character as well. As I've written elsewhere, Overholt has a slightly similar character but at only 80 proof it doesn't really shine. Baby Saz makes you forget that it's 90 proof.It's not rye as I've known it, and thus it's something I try to keep on hand when it's available. Makes me wonder what life was like before prohibition, when there were all kinds of different ryes available from Pennsylvania, Maryland, Kentucky, Ohio and elsewhere. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chefnash51 Posted November 21, 2008 Share Posted November 21, 2008 I've not been reading or posting much lately here, so forgive me if this is well-covered terrain: is there a shortage of this product right now? Regards,I have wondered the same thing.. good question. Does anyone have any insight into this? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
burbankbrewer Posted November 21, 2008 Share Posted November 21, 2008 It wopuld depend on which Sazerac you picked up. I did a review of the fall 2003 18 yo version here and there is also a 6 yo version which I haven't gotten around to reviewing yet but you can find plenty of info on either on this board.I've been curiuos about the Handy for some time and wonder if it's really worth the price? I guess there is only one way to find out. How about the other 18 & 21 yr olds? How do they rate top 10? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smokinjoe Posted November 21, 2008 Share Posted November 21, 2008 I've been curiuos about the Handy for some time and wonder if it's really worth the price? I guess there is only one way to find out. How about the other 18 & 21 yr olds? How do they rate top 10?BB, the Handy has pretty much jumped to the top of the Antique Collection Everest, IMO. Wow, what a rye. To me, it's worth twice as much as the $60+ price tag it carries. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
burbankbrewer Posted November 23, 2008 Share Posted November 23, 2008 BB, the Handy has pretty much jumped to the top of the Antique Collection Everest, IMO. Wow, what a rye. To me, it's worth twice as much as the $60+ price tag it carries.Are you talking about the the barrel proof Thomas H. Handy 8yo 132.7 proof, or the Sazerac 18yo? This website shows the Handy but if enlarged shows the Sazerac 18yo. BTW, I can get either for $51 in Oaklawn, IL. Between the two of these, which one do you like better?http://www.spiritsreview.com/reviews-rye-thomas-h-handy-sazerac.htm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smokinjoe Posted November 23, 2008 Share Posted November 23, 2008 Are you talking about the the barrel proof Thomas H. Handy 8yo 132.7 proof, or the Sazerac 18yo? This website shows the Handy but if enlarged shows the Sazerac 18yo. BTW, I can get either for $51 in Oaklawn, IL.http://www.spiritsreview.com/reviews-rye-thomas-h-handy-sazerac.htmI was referring to the Handy that you were wondering about in the earlier post. $51 is a great price. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
polyamnesia Posted December 19, 2008 Share Posted December 19, 2008 this is the bottle i am most excited about and look forward to getting tomorrow...had our heater not gone out (hundreds spent there...), i'd grab up stagg and eagle and...and...and...anyways, found this interesting link...maybe it has already been posted...http://skeltoac.com/2008/11/07/thomas-handy-sazerac-straight-rye-whiskey/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
burbankbrewer Posted December 22, 2008 Share Posted December 22, 2008 Thanks for the heads up guys. I picked mine up and it's everything people have said. It gave me the confidence without ever tasting it to shell out $51 for a great bottle of Rye. It will be a very good christmas this year. Cheers! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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