Rye Whiskey Review · Buffalo Trace Antique Collection
Sazerac 18 Year Rye
Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey — 18 Year Aged
The Story
Sazerac 18 is what happens when you let rye whiskey sit for two decades instead of rushing it out the door. It comes out every fall as part of the BTAC lineup, and eighteen years is a long time for any whiskey, let alone rye — the sharp, aggressive spice rye is known for gets smoothed out into something a lot more interesting. At 90 proof it's also the most approachable pour in the whole collection.
Nose, Palate & Finish
Nose
Smells older and more settled than a typical rye — some dried herbs, oak, a little sweetness. Less sharp and peppery than you'd expect, more mellow.
Palate
Smooth and refined. The rye spice is still there but it's not shouting — it's sharing space with oak, caramel, and a little dried-fruit sweetness. This is what rye tastes like once it stops trying to prove something.
Finish
Long and dry, with the wood and a little herbal note fading out slowly. Not much sweetness left by the end — it's a serious, grown-up finish.