Thomas H. Handy (2021)

A little background

Thomas H. Handy Sazerac is part of the Buffalo Trace Antique Collection and named for the famous New Orleans bartender who was the first to use rye whiskey in the Sazerac Cocktail. Thomas H. Handy is a uncut and unfiltered straight rye Whiskey that’s bottled directly from the barrel, just as it was over a century ago. Full of rich flavors, this authentic American rye whiskey is a symbol of the timeless history of New Orleans and the legacy of Thomas H. Handy.

Manufacturer: Buffalo Trace Distillery
Mashbill: Undisclosed
Location: Franklin County, Kentucky
Barrel Details: Filled in spring 2014 and picked from barrels matured in Warehouses K, M, and N with an evaporation rate of 32%.
Proof / ABV: 129.5 / 64.75
Retail Price: $99

(Tasted neat from a Glencairn Glass)

Color

Dark Amber

Nose

Cool rye spice with vanilla, honey, and citrus zest with hints of plum slight cinnamon and leather.

Palate

Heavy mouthfeel with creamy toffee up front with rye spice and subtle vanilla followed by oak and hints of plum on the mid to back palate.

Finish

Heavy rye spice with tingles on the finish with cool mint, oak, and vanilla. A growing heat settles in the chest with an aftertaste of raisins.

In closing

The sheer complexity of the nose of the 2021 release of Thomas H. Handy is quite amazing and evolves after each sip with beautiful notes of citrus zest, plum, and cinnamon. The nose is intoxicating, teasing the drinker with new notes each time. At first sip, creamy toffee rushes the front palate with rye spice however at mid palate a wonderful vanilla note pushes through with oak and hints of plum towards the back palate. The finish is cool mint right up front with heavy rye spice almost like pop rocks on the tongue. Once the mint passes, vanilla comes through giving just enough sweetness for the finish to really take off. As the finish continues, an aftertaste of raisins comes back and the salivary glands begin to really kick in beckoning another sip.

Thomas H. Handy at the retail price of $99 is well worth the price of admission because of the complex nose and incredible finish. However, given the popularity of the Buffalo Trace Antique Collection,these are becoming incredibly hard to find at retail so good luck with your hunt!

NOTE: The sample used for this review was provided at no cost courtesy of Buffalo Trace. We thank them for the sample and for allowing us to review it with no strings attached.