The Schtick: Thomas H Handy is always a polarizing release in the Antique Collection from Buffalo Trace – it’s the youngest by far, and also a rye. That said, it’s typically a favorite of mine because it has something I don’t often see in the others: brash, raw, powerful character that’s lacking polish but always hits really well (for me) – this is 2022’s Thomas H Handy Sazerac Rye and I’m looking forward to getting into it. Let’s dive in.
Disclosure: None – purchased at retail.
Review #2644 | Whiskey Review #1137
Distiller: Buffalo Trace
Bottler: Buffalo Trace
Brand: Thomas H. Handy
Selection: None – General LTO Release
ABV: 65.45% ABV
Age: NAS
Nose: Powerful brown sugar straight away on the nose, loaded with sweetness before the spice pops up. Big cinnamon, cracked pepper, hints of ginger, herbal rye spice that’s a little herbal and a lot pepper. It jumps out of the glass. I don’t get as much oak on the nose: just big, sweet, fat desserts with an aggressive rye spice to match.
Taste: Rich on the palate, viscous, syrupy, chewy and a touch prickly from the ethanol and rye spice. Plentiful oak, loads of caramel, nougat, brown sugar, maple and big pepper. Rye spice in droves, the cinnamon fades in favor of black pepper, rye spice, herbal undertones and a monster viscosity.
Finish: Long finish, more sweet than spice here with oak, big caramels and molasses taking the stage and holding on. The prickle of ethanol from the palate is gone, instead full of sweetness and decadence and spice.
Overall: 2022 was a great year for THH in my opinion and it reminds me that thoughtful composition is a huge part of every whiskey release. Thomas Handy is a fat, bold, dessert driven rye that also doesn’t hold any punches, doesn’t cover up any oak and is content to be the punk rocker of the collection, in my opinion. A little too punchy for a Manhattan, though, I’d say.
Thanks for reading!
Rank: 8
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