Let me be straight with you — the Thomas H. Handy Sazerac Rye from the 2016 Buffalo Trace Antique Collection is not a casual purchase. At £1,000 and 63.1% ABV, this is a bottle that demands respect on every level. But if you're serious about American rye whiskey, this is one of the benchmarks against which everything else gets measured.
For those unfamiliar, the Thomas H. Handy is released once a year as part of the Buffalo Trace Antique Collection, alongside heavyweights like Pappy Van Winkle and George T. Stagg. It's an uncut, unfiltered straight rye, bottled at barrel proof — and that 63.1% is no joke. This isn't something you knock back. This is something you sit with.
What makes the Handy special in the rye category is its commitment to presenting the spirit exactly as it comes out of the barrel. No water added, no chill filtration. What you're getting is the full, uncompromised character of a straight rye whiskey. The NAS designation means Buffalo Trace selected barrels based on taste rather than hitting a specific age statement, which in my experience often produces more interesting results. The blenders are chasing flavour, not a number on the label.
Tasting Notes
I won't fabricate specific tasting notes I don't have in front of me, but I can tell you what to expect from a barrel-proof rye of this calibre. The 2016 releases were widely regarded as exceptional across the Antique Collection. At 63.1%, you should expect serious intensity — that high proof carries enormous flavour density. Rye grain character tends to push spice and herbal qualities to the front, and at barrel strength those characteristics arrive with real conviction. A few drops of water will open this up considerably, and I'd strongly recommend experimenting with dilution to find your sweet spot.
The Verdict
Is the Thomas H. Handy worth £1,000? That depends entirely on what you're looking for. As a drinking experience, this is elite-tier American whiskey — barrel proof, unfiltered, from one of the most sought-after annual releases in the world. The 2016 bottling in particular has built a strong reputation among collectors and drinkers alike. For a rye enthusiast, owning and opening one of these is genuinely memorable.
The price reflects scarcity more than anything else. The Antique Collection is allocated in tiny quantities, and secondary market demand has pushed these bottles into four-figure territory. You're paying for rarity alongside quality. But the quality is absolutely there — this isn't hype without substance. I'm giving the Thomas H. Handy 2016 an 8.1 out of 10. It's a brilliant barrel-proof rye that delivers exactly what it promises: raw, uncompromised whiskey with serious character. The only reason it doesn't score higher is that at this price point, I hold bottles to an almost unreasonable standard.
Best Served
Neat, in a Glencairn or wide-rimmed tasting glass, with a small jug of room-temperature water on the side. Start with a tiny pour — maybe 15ml — and taste it at full proof first to appreciate the intensity. Then add water a few drops at a time. At 63.1%, this whiskey transforms dramatically with dilution, and finding the ratio that works for your palate is half the pleasure. If you're feeling bold, a barrel-proof rye like this makes an absolutely stunning Sazerac cocktail — it's named after the drink, after all. Use a half measure, add your Peychaud's bitters and sugar, and the high proof stands up beautifully against the absinthe rinse. But honestly, at £1,000 a bottle, I'd save the cocktails for a more affordable rye and enjoy this one on its own terms.
