Sazerac Rye 18 Year Old, Antique Collection 2025
Named after the historic Sazerac House, this rye is aged 18 years and five months and bottled at 90 proof (45%), by far the lowest of the Buffalo Trace Antique Collection 2025. As one of the oldest age-stated ryes in continuous release, this whiskey offers something completely different to the heavy-hitting bourbons of the same age – light, floral and spicy.
Nose
Dill, rye bread, herbs, white pepper
Palate
White pepper, toasted oak, citrus, dried herbs
Finish
Licorice, dried herbs, white pepper
A forceful herbal nose full of dill, rye bread and pepper. The palate carries that intensity with white pepper, toasted oak and citrus adding lift. As it settles, liquorice and further herbal notes return. A bright, complex rye with real clarity.
Wonderfully fragrant on the nose; full of freshly crushed mint and black pepper, with a hint of sweet apple cider vinegar in the background. That freshness continues on the palate with a herbaceous kick before the toasted oak spice takes over. A real palate cleanser of a whiskey.
The nose shows pronounced dill and caraway, giving a sweet-pickle note over dark toasted rye, layered with fennel, apple cider and something close to top-tier aged aquavit. The palate follows with deli-counter dill, cloves, celery bitters, celery soda and more rye bread before shifting into orange, stem ginger, cinnamon rolls and caramelised apple, the herbal and sweet elements held together by spearmint and eucalyptus freshness. The finish stays herbal and slightly sweet with balanced oak and a touch of anisette; where some past Sazerac 18 releases tipped into wood chips and pencils, this one keeps its rye character firmly intact.
