Comments on: Inside scoop: Sazerac Rye 18 year old

By: What are you drinking right now?

What are you drinking right now? — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 22:44:34 +0000

[...] quite awhile. the Fall is when they will release the 2010 I believe. Ask and ye shall receive Sazerac Scoop Imagination is more important than knowledge. — A. Einstein Reply With Quote [...]

By: Hudson

Hudson — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 03:36:19 +0000

The 6-year Sazerac Rye is disgusting. The metallic aftertaste is a complete turn-off.

By: Halon Archipelago

Halon Archipelago — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 06:25:51 +0000

Thank you gentlemen, I know now that I can store my best in a SS (stainless steel) thermos without fear. This has been a concern when embarking on fishing trips since my companeneros are whisky experts and glass just will not survive…
Regards
BG

By: Cocktails Old Fashioned » Blog Archive » Webweites #3 - Thought’s of a mixology novice

Mon, 11 May 2009 16:48:53 +0000

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By: Thomas Wright

Thomas Wright — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 01:09:48 +0000

Mark, by chance have you had to oportunity to sample the Sazerac 18 year old Rye bottled in 2008?

By: John Hansell

John Hansell — Sat, 14 Jun 2008 21:37:40 +0000

Good insight Bernhard. Thank you for the posting.

By: Bernhard List

Bernhard List — Sat, 14 Jun 2008 18:23:26 +0000

Hi John
I am not an expert on the above topics but I did notice one thing: I had the Sazerac bottled in 2002 and later and everytime I open a new bottle I kinda get disappointed since I remembered the smooth taste of the previous year. Now on the 2007 release the same thing happened and after having 2-3 samples I had put it back on the shelf (thinking: so-so!) Yesterday (3 months later) I had a glas again with a friend and to my surprise it tasted as wonderful smooth now as I had remembered all the other Sazes. Now to come to a conclusion maybe Rye does smooth out when it comes in contact with Oxygen.
Mine is definitely much better now and dwindling fast!
Bernhard List
Germany

By: John Hansell

John Hansell — Mon, 18 Feb 2008 14:33:05 +0000

If you read between the lines of Mark’s comments, he does only discuss the present and, I suppose it is possible (and even likely) that he had other whiskeys in stainless in the past. But I don’t know for certain.

Regarding Julian’s Rye, I do remember Julian telling one once at Kentucky Bourbon Festival that his 13 year old rye was actually more like 17 years old. So, if he did put some of his rye whiskey in stainless, it many not have been until after it had racked up a few extra years in oak first. Maybe if Mark is lurking, he can confirm.

Bottom line, really, is how the whiskey tastes. That’s really all the matters in the end.

By: Greg Goldstein

Greg Goldstein — Mon, 18 Feb 2008 13:41:57 +0000

There was some discussion that Buffalo Trace (may) have brought in & used supplemental whiskey (rye) of a similar age, (from an outside source) to marry and thus increase the volume on being tanked.

Per Mark: “The only whiskey currently in stainless is the Straight Rye (18yr.) and a small amount of Weller 12 year old, soon to be bottled.”

It was my understanding that Julian’s Van Winkle Family Reserve Rye was also tanked. Has that all been bottled now?

By: John Hansell

John Hansell — Sun, 17 Feb 2008 15:50:50 +0000

Greg, a marriage of what?–John

By: Greg Goldstein

Greg Goldstein — Sun, 17 Feb 2008 15:44:05 +0000

John,

I was wondering if you or Mark might comment / confirm whether or not the tanked Sazerac Rye was a marriage similar to Julian’s Van Winkle rye at the time of tanking? Thanks.

By: John Hansell

John Hansell — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 14:13:39 +0000

Oh, and regarding the Eagle Rare 17 year old, I think the 2007 vintage may be the best vintage yet. Looks like you now have a new quest.

By: John Hansell

John Hansell — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 14:11:01 +0000

Louis, I contacted Mark Brown this morning and asked him. Here’s what he had to say:

“The only whiskey currently in stainless is the Straight Rye (18yr.) and a small amount of Weller 12 year old, soon to be bottled.”

Very admirable of Mark to be so open with us in these matters. This should put all this Buffalo Trace stainless discussion to bed. (For now, anyway.)

By: Louis

Louis — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 02:25:25 +0000

John,

Do you know if the same situation exists for other memvers of the BT Antique Collection? You rated the Eagle Rare 17 year old 2005 release 93 and the 2006 only 88. I adored my bottle of 2005 which was polished off in record time, while my bottle of 2006 is still unopened. As the labels only say ‘bottled in’, I wonder now, if they might have come from the same batch.

Cheers.

Louis

By: John Hansell

John Hansell — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 23:36:25 +0000

Ethan, what you say makes sense. The current Sazerac Rye 18 might indeed be 18 but that doesn’t mean that previous ones weren’t.

I guess what really matters is how it tastes, and I think we can both agree that this whiskey has always been a benchmark for aged rye whiskeys.