Table Of Contents
The Details
| Rating | 96 |
| Style |
Rye American Whiskey Whiskey |
| Produced In |
Kentucky United States |
| ABV | 45% |
| Availability | Limited |
| Price | $149.99 |
| Reviewed By | |
| Review Updated | 2024-10-31 |
Sazerac Rye 18 Year-Old 2024 Review
Within the near-legendary Buffalo Trace Antique Collection (BTAC for short), Sazerac 18 usually reigns as the elder statesmen of the five expressions. Year to year, it carries the highest age statement, though occasionally a sister expression will come in in a touch older. Such was the case with 2023’s Eagle Rare 17, a bourbon that clocked in at 19 years, 3 months old.
As far as ages, this year’s lineup is a bit more typical, and Sazerac 18 is once again the eldest of the bunch. This Kentucky straight rye whiskey was bottled at 18 years, 5 months old and 90 proof, a now-customary strength for the expression. It’s worth noting that while Buffalo Trace doesn’t disclose specific mashbills, Sazerac ryes are believed to contain a fairly low percentage of rye (just at or above the mandated 51 percent) and a decently high percentage of corn, in addition to malted barley.
I thought last year’s Saz 18 was a tasty and overall high-quality showcase of the expression, even if certain components didn’t blow my socks off. Let’s see how the 2024 version stacks up!
Sazerac Rye 18 Year-Old 2024: Stats and Availability
All five expressions in the 2024 Buffalo Trace Antique Collection carry a suggested retail price of $150, up about $25 from last year’s MSRP. Year to year, and almost without fail, BTAC is one of the most sought-after lineups in American whiskey. And while these days Buffalo Trace generally doesn’t release specific bottle counts, Sazerac 18 has traditionally been a smaller release compared to the much-younger (and higher proof) Thomas H. Handy Rye. Retail and secondary markups often reflect those factors, and it’s not uncommon to see Sazerac 18 listed for over $1,000 on shelves. Many liquor stores — including in control states and counties, depending on local regulations — often raffle off the opportunity to purchase these bottles at MSRP. May the odds be in your favor.
Sazerac Rye 18 Year-Old 2023 Review
As with all of VinePair’s whiskey reviews, this was tasted in a Glencairn glass and rested for at least five minutes.
Nose
On the nose, I found last year’s Sazerac 18 became an amalgam of herbal notes and pepper spice, a fascinating and somewhat rare combo for Kentucky ryes (which often contain a higher percentage of corn). The 2024 release goes in a decidedly different direction, leaning heavily into dark oak, cured tobacco, and stacks of library books. It’s tannic, earthy, and woody, with a tough-to-describe “dusty funk” many drinkers of vintage bourbon and rye will immediately recognize. I like to think of it as existing at the intersection of toasted wood, caramelizing sugar, and burning wet leaves.
That’s a lot to unpack, so let’s take a brief step back: this smells fantastic. Deeper inhales bring dark fruits, including Concord grape and blackberry preserves. Long sniffs are punctuated with touches of rye spice, white pepper, burnt orange peel, and spearmint. Each of those notes adds character without distracting from oak and tobacco, the unabashed stars of this particular show.
It’s a rye that smells every bit its age, while accomplishing the rare feat of holding those deep and tannic aromas with an effortless grace. I get the sense that one tiny nudge in any direction would likely derail the train, but this particular blend walks the tightrope like few 18 year old American whiskeys do. (And it’s far more common to encounter a bourbon in that elite realm.)
Taste
Earthy notes lead off on the palate, with some light salinity taking the early palate toward the savory. Oak is ever-present throughout the sip, but it’s not so strong as to overpower everything else. Burnt ends, pepper-crusted brisket, and browning sauce are surprising (but altogether welcome) initial flavors. The next few sips bring some brown sugar sweetness, gradually pulling the composite of flavors from dry rubbed meat toward meat slathered in sweet barbeque sauce.
The midpalate brings another surprise, in this case a hefty dose of star anise, backed almost immediately by pumpernickel rye bread, powdered ginger, and more mint. Even at 90 proof, the whiskey maintains enough structure and viscosity that most flavors stick around for a good long while, making even subtle notes easy to pick up. While “legs” on a whiskey aren’t always an indicator of quality, in this case, it’s easy to notice how thickly Saz 18 runs down the sides of a Glencairn — much more than most 90 proofers on the market.
Blackberry adds some welcome tartness toward the back palate, along with residual mint and always-there oak.
Finish
Flavors stick around so long it’s a little tough to discern where the palate ends and the finish begins. Ultimately, the big differentiator comes down to herbal mint tea, which tangos with old oak for what feels like long minutes after each sip. A little honey sweetness lingers across the tongue as well, adding to the perception of sweetened herbal tea on the finish.
Sazerac Rye 18-Year-Old Rating
96/100
Recap
This year’s Sazerac 18 showcases its 18+ years in cask in a way few American whiskeys can, balancing heavy tannic influence with touches of fruit and spice that kept me coming back for more. It’s earthy without getting bogged down, herbal without turning grassy, and just sweet enough to tie those elements together cleanly. I found it a noticeable step up compared to the (very good) 2023 release, and it’s certainly one of my favorite ryes of 2024.
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