Sazerac Rye Review Archives – Whiskey for the Ages

Sazerac Straight Rye Whiskey Review:

reviewed 23-October-2021

SAZERAC STRAIGHT RYE WHISKEY REVIEW:

Sazerac Straight Rye (Sazerac) is a fine whiskey. Its herbal notes of corn and rye along with spices of cinnamon and nutmeg are easy to draw. These aromas pass to the palate and blend nicely with vanilla custard and lightly burnt caramel. This rye has a medium to long finish with faint but lingering old oak and barrel char.

SAZERAC STRAIGHT RYE WHISKEY VITAL STATS:

Category: Straight Rye
Region: Frankfort, KY, USA
Company: Sazerac Company, Inc.
Distillery: Buffalo Trace
Mash Bill: Undisclosed (Buffalo Trace’s Low Rye, Rye Mashbill)
Barrel Char: #4
Barrel entry proof: unpublished
Age: nas
ABV: 45% (90 Proof)
Price: $29.95 (Idaho 2020)
No batch or bottle number identifiers

Click to Buffalo Trace Distillery learn more.

ENJOYMENT METHOD:

Alternate pours, equaling about four ounces, were added into two Glencairns. My daughter and I enjoyed the whiskey neat for this review.

Check out her review for this rye here!

SAZERAC STRAIGHT RYE WHISKEY NOSE:

Sazerac gives little if any nip to the nose even with heavy draws. The whiskey is herbal with notes of both rye and corn. I also sense fresh apples and tropical notes in the aroma as well. The spices of cinnamon, nutmeg and rye are faint but they seem to help with a lingering aroma of an empty cinnamon-apple pie tin. There is sweetness here too which comes to the nose as light vanilla, simple syrup, and buttery caramel toffee. This rye is not woody by any means but there are traces of light drying oak and a little toasted wood. Sazarac is gentle and fresh and it smells great.

SAZERAC STRAIGHT RYE WHISKEY PALATE:

Sazerac is a warm an herbal rye and like on the nose I taste grain and corn. In the back of the palate I get soft, sweet apples, and tropical fruit dance on the tongue as well. Spices of faint cinnamon, pepper and rye boost the sweets of simple syrup, slightly burnt caramel and light molasses. And like on the nose, the woodiness is faint and taste of dry old oak and smoky sweet barrel char. I cannot say this rye is earthy but there is depth here.

Balance, Body, Feel and Look:
When the first sip of Sazerac enters the mouth it feels like I’ve taken a tablespoon of fine virgin olive oil. There is a slight tickle on the tongue, but this solid rye stands on its own with well blended aromas and flavors. In the Glencairn exceptionally fat legs transport the sip wash back to the light russet colored pool, leaving behind a nearly perfect crown.

SAZERAC STRAIGHT RYE WHISKEY FINISH:

The initial sip of Sazerac fades with a medium finish. But as I continue to sip, the finish grows soft, long and warm. I sense no fruit but I do feel faint spices of pepper and rye and sweets of vanilla custard and buttery caramel. As each sip goes down, old oak and barrel char help bolster the earthy but fresh finish. And when the last dram is downed, all the aromas and flavors can be drawn from the empty Glencairn.

MY SAZERAC STRAIGHT RYE WHISKEY RATING: 90/100

Will I buy this whiskey again? YES
_{Click to read Brian’s scoring process.}

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WHISKEY TRAITS, FLAVOR NOTES AND PROFILE GRAPH:

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Hannah’s Sazerac Straight Rye Review

Original review written October 23, 2021

GENERAL DESCRIPTION:

A great rye, at a great price. Fresh, light, popping flavors with gentle alcohol burn, this is a rye (perhaps my first rye), I am committed to keeping on hand at all times. 90/100

VITALS:

– Made In: Frankfort, Kentucky, USA
– Distiller: Buffalo Trace Distillery
– Classification: Straight Rye Whiskey
– Age: nas
– Mash Bill: undisclosed (Buffalo Trace’s Low Rye, Rye Mashbill)
– Casks: Char #4
– Barrel Entry Proof: unpublished
– ABV: 45% (90 proof)
– Price: $29.95 USD in Idaho (2020)

Visit buffalotracedistillery.com for more information

ENJOYMENT METHOD:

I enjoyed the spirit neat from a Glencairn glass with father and fellow Whiskey for the Ages reviewer, Brian.

Check out his review for this rye here!

SETTING:

Perhaps the most simple of my settings, it is also the most widely accessible. Open up a bottle of solid Sazerac just in the middle of your living room (even a small one!) with good company. Everything is cozy; the conversation is light and humorous, and Sazerac just carries you softly through the evening – assisting in giving you a smile all the while.

Photo by Francesca Tosolini on Unsplash

NOSE:

This smells very perfume-y without even needing to bring it all the way up to my nose. It’s noticeably fresh, as I would expect from a rye, and it has a fairly floral bouquet. I find orange blossoms, and fresh white peaches. Accompanying is a sweet bread, like something I could find in a fruit bar. Subtle milk chocolate and light vanilla and the slightest bit of new leather push all of the fruity, bright sweetness together into a warm hug. I get the slightest hint of almonds and some very, very freshly cut oak. The oak is gentle, as is the rye grain – both more of an essence rather than main character. The alcohol is equally soft, and while it tickles (dare I use the word “playfully”?), it does not burn. I quite like this nose.

PALATE:

– Mouth Feel: Oily, but this does have a bit of grip to it, and I find that I enjoy that aspect quite a lot.
– Balance: Solid. The fruit and sweetness is soft, but present, and the rye and ginger work in tandem with it to make it pop.
– Visual: Russet in color, this is very viscous in the glass, with clinging droplets falling slowly from a thick crown.

– Taste: I can hold this on the palate for a good long while without feeling any kind of burn whatsoever. However, as soon as I process the sip, I am met with some of the orange blossoms from the nose, along with some juicy cherries. The rye pops at the very back of the palate to make all of the flavors go off like fireworks that much more. It’s not a particularly complex flavor profile, but the bright sweetness, backed by the spice makes it entertaining. There is even some ginger that livens it up even more with the rye. Again- simple. But I am finding that I quite like it.

The alcohol is still so very gentle and not at all aggressive. A Kentucky chew is equally mild, with little pricks on the tongue with the cherry and some newfound cherry juice coming into the picture.

FINISH:

– Lasting Power: Short-medium. The pop of rye makes some warmth linger, but it doesn’t stick around for too long.
– Between Sips: I can find some rye freshness and cherry between sips, and all they do is encourage me to reach for another good-tasting sip.

– No More: This stays consistent throughout the glass – perhaps mellowing out slightly, but not in any kind of way that I’d be disappointed in. I’m still definitely enjoying this thoroughly.

The empty Glencairn is a buttery oak – warm, soft, and perfectly comfortable. I love how this smells.

WORTH THE PRICE?

At $30 USD, I will absolutely keep this around and in the bunker when I have the chance. It’s light, fresh, and a great change of pace. A great finish, some sweet (but not overbearing) notes, and just really fun and entertaining. Highly recommend.

SAZERAC STRAIGHT RYE REVIEW RATING: 90/100

Click to see Hannah’s rating process

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