Fred Minnick continues his reviews of the 2025 Buffalo Trace Antique Collection, this time tackling both rye whiskeys from the collection in Thomas H. Handy and Sazerac 18 Year.

He starts with the Sazerac, immediately getting notes of vanilla and smoked jalapeno on the nose. Upon tasting, he says the age is apparent but it’s not over-oaked. He notes that he doesn’t care for over-oaked bourbons, with ryes its different.

“I love older ryes,” he confesses. “I find oak really complements the spice.”

He then says it is “lighting up” the back of his palate with peppery spice, calling it “fantastic. … It’s hot in a spicy way.”

He reports a long finish, especially for a 90-proof whiskey, with vanilla sweetness eventually creeping in to join the spice.

He then moves to the Handy, which is 6 years old and bottled at 129 proof. He gets a pronounced note of pungent rye or rye bread. It seemingly pales in the wake of tasting the 18-year whiskey.

He goes in for two tastes and said he feels it on the tip and middle of the tongue, but very little on the back of the tongue. He tastes grassy notes, black pepper and honey, but said “it’s no wowing me … it’s OK.”

He ranks it in the middle of the pack of this year’s Antique Collection. Watch the full video below.

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