The Thomas H. Handy Sazerac is one of those bottles that commands respect before you even crack the seal. Part of Buffalo Trace's legendary Antique Collection — released annually and fought over like the last dram at closing time — the Handy sits in rarefied air. This particular bottling, distilled in 2011 and released in 2017, gives us roughly six years of Kentucky rye character at a formidable 63.6% ABV. That's cask strength, uncut and unfiltered, exactly the way I like my rye.
Now, let's address the elephant in the room. The label says Kentucky Straight Rye, and rightly so — this is a rye whiskey through and through, despite what shelf categorisation might suggest. The Handy is named after the bartender credited with creating the Sazerac cocktail in pre-Prohibition New Orleans, and that heritage matters. This isn't a whisky that exists in a vacuum. It carries the weight of American cocktail history in every drop.
At 63.6%, you're dealing with serious firepower. This is barrel proof rye, which means what's in your glass is essentially what came straight out of the wood. No water added, no adjustments made. For me, that's always exciting — you're getting the distiller's unvarnished truth. The high proof tells you something about the barrel selection and warehouse conditions too. Kentucky's brutal temperature swings push spirit deep into the char, and when you're bottling at this strength, every interaction with that oak is amplified.
Tasting Notes
I'd love to walk you through a detailed nose-to-finish breakdown, but I'll be honest — I want to let this bottle speak for itself when you pour it. What I will say is that with a Kentucky straight rye at this proof and this age, you should expect the classic Handy profile: bold, spice-forward, with the kind of depth that rewards patience. A few drops of water will open it up considerably, and I'd encourage you to spend time with it neat before making any dilution decisions. Let it breathe. Let it evolve in the glass. Cask strength whisky always has more to say than you'd expect.
The Verdict
At £1,250, this is firmly in collector and serious enthusiast territory. The Antique Collection bottles have become secondary market darlings, and the 2017 release of the 2011 distillate is no exception. Is it worth the price? That depends on what you're after. As a drinking experience, this is excellent rye whiskey — bold, characterful, and unmistakably American. The Handy has earned its reputation year after year, and this bottling doesn't let the side down. I'm giving it a 7.7 out of 10. It's a genuinely impressive pour that delivers on the promise of cask strength rye, though at this price point, you're paying a significant premium for scarcity and collectibility rather than just what's in the glass. The whisky itself is fantastic — the market has simply moved the goalposts on value.
Best Served
If you're brave enough to mix with a bottle at this price — and I'd argue the Handy practically begs for it — build a proper Sazerac. Rinse a chilled rocks glass with absinthe, stir down the rye with a sugar cube and a few dashes of Peychaud's bitters, and express a lemon peel over the top. The cocktail was literally named after this whisky's lineage, so it feels almost rude not to. Otherwise, pour it neat in a Glencairn with a single drop of water, give it ten minutes, and just listen to what it has to tell you.
