Neat. Bar pour. First time tasting any Saz 18. On the nose, the 18 years comes across as a musty log cabin. Even has some moss growing on the walls. There is a lot of sweetness resting underneath. The rye comes across like a peppercorn mixture. Going back to the sweetness, it is a sweet cream vanilla frosting primarily. Slight hint of dark chocolate. I really enjoy the musty oak. I keep going back to that note. Really makes me want to be in an old wood cabin, nestled by a fire. On the taste, mouthfeel is thin. I was hoping it would come across as more oily like a Lost Prophet but it’s thin. Not a whole lot going on initially either. Sugared mint leaves. Mid-palate it is all rye. And strangely it doesn’t taste like an ultra aged rye mid palate (the comes later but not 18 years worth still). Rye, vanilla. The finish is the most interesting part. Those oils finally come into play. It’s really tannic though. The finish is mint chocolate chip and then dry wood chips. Then the tannic nature takes over, a bit unpleasant. First Eagle Rare 17 and now this. No desire to own a bottle of this if this is the experience. I do not enjoy it. Rather have Michters 10 Rye by a mile off memory. It’s an expensive pour ($40) but great knowledge if ever faced with a choice to buy one versus something else.
About this bottle
Sazerac 18 Year is a Kentucky straight rye released as part of the Buffalo Trace Antique Collection. The barrels selected for this Fall 2021 bottling were filled in spring 2003 and rested on the second and fourth floors of Warehouses K & P. It was bottled at 90 proof after chill-filtration. Released October 2021.
How it tastes
Measured across 14 flavor axes. Tap a note to find other bottles that lead with it.
Reviews
Showing the most detailed of 7 parsed reviews.
Light copper color. Light butterscotch, citrus, vanilla and a hint of licorice on the nose. Spicy, peppery, cinnamon flavor profile with light/medium sweetness and some lingering musty/moldy oak. Not as rich/intense as the other Antique Collection, but expected with a 45% abv. Certainly my least favorite of the collection. 3.91.
Tasted this with 2020 Thomas H. Handy. Handy DEMOLISHES this by comparison, but this is still a nice, sweet oak bomb. Great pour if you like munching on wood staves or widdling wood sculptures with your teeth in your spare time.
Light on the tongue up front. Spicy fire on the back end. Enjoyable after dinner treat. Peppery, musty, and hints of oak. This didn’t wow me, but glad to have checked this one off the list.
Phenomenal. Love the nose, sip, finish.
Not my thing but well balanced
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Tastes like this
Closest flavor profiles across the whole catalog.
