Sazerac 18 year old was launched in 2000 as part of what is now the Buffalo Trace Antique Collection. These were bottled from a legendary batch of rye whiskey distilled by Schenley at Buffalo Trace when it was still known as George T. Stagg. It was distilled in the early 1980s with the intention of releasing a rye line for its popular Cream of Kentucky brand. The company lost interest in this however, and the casks were left to age far beyond the normal period for such whiskies. To the surprise of many, it turned into an exceptional product and has produced many legendary bottlings. In addition to these, it was also blended through the Van Winkle Family Reserve Rye in 2004.

Appearance: Amber.

Nose: There’s lots of sweetness and spice in this nose, with a very holiday-like bouquet of allspice, nutmeg, clove, cinnamon, and dried fruit. I also get an earthy, almost musty component—old wood, fresh soil—which conjures up the feeling of celebrating Christmas in an old, drafty manor house.

Palate: Like last years’, I find that Sazera 18-Year-Old delivers a really pure expression of rye. There’s a slightly green, stemmy note in the entry that builds to a nice bold crescendo of burnt caramel, dried herbs, black pepper, and dill pickle. It’s very sweet and full on the palate, with a filled-out feeling and a dense, mouth-coating texture. Ninety proof feels like the perfect strength. The finish is long and dill-inflected with a lot of mellow, integrated oak spice.