Buffalo Trace has issued a new version of its ubiquitous Sazerac Straight Rye Whiskey, this one being 100 proof and in a bar liter size. Sazerac Rye is a corn rye mix, as opposed to the E.H. Taylor Rye which is all rye with a little barley malt. The Buffalo Trace Antique Collection has an eighteen year old version and a cask strength version called Thomas Handy Sazerac Rye. At $35, this is very reasonably priced and the higher proof will be great for cocktails. But, I am reviewing it neat. One important note – Sazerac Rye at both their 90 and 100 proof versions do not have the designation “Kentucky Straight Rye” because a small amount of Sazerac Rye is distilled at Sazerac House on Canal Street in New Orleans. This makes Sazerac House a mini-distillery tour experience, albeit without a barrel house. The whiskey itself is all aged at Buffalo Trace in Frankfort Kentucky.

The color is a nice amber; not extremely dark but given that it only claims to be at least four years old, that’s fine, and rye really matures faster than bourbon; thus the difference in age statements between Handy and George T. Stagg. On the swirl is a thick film with really long legs-this is a nice oily whiskey. On the nose it a ton of herbal rye and rye spice; with some star anise thrown in there for good measure. On the palate, lots of anise, citrus fruit, black pepper, herbs led mostly by mint, but with some nice caramel in the background. The finish is extremely impressive for a $35 rye – long, lingering notes of star anise, mint, and a hint of clove. The flavors are definitely destined for a Sazerac cocktail, a frequent drink order of mine, both complimenting the absinthe, bitters, and lemon and mimicking some of those flavors to enhance them. At 100 proof, the whiskey can certainly stand up better to the other ingredients in a Sazerac, and would be great in an old fashioned or Manhattan.

I do have a theory about this release. Heaven Hill’s Rittenhouse Rye at 100 proof has gotten quite the following among rye drinkers, and I think this is Sazerac Company’s Rittenhouse killer, and I think they are deliberately trying to dominate the 100 proof rye whiskey space. Given its price and liter size, this is destined to be a workhorse whiskey at many a bar in New Orleans and elsewhere. But, this quite honestly is a nice neat sipping rye whiskey. Now, if Buffalo Trace really wanted to just take everyone else out in the sub $45 bourbon market, they would start selling a 100 proof Buffalo Trace in bar liters. But, I don’t think they can make enough Buffalo Trace to do that, since the 90 proof version only recently went off allocation. At least not yet – they have more rickhouses that have been built and they have added a new still. In another five years we might see 100 proof Buffalo Trace. In the meantime, 100 proof Sazerac Rye is going to be a mainstay on my home bar.