Sazerac 18 Year Old Rye Whiskey 2019
The previous edition of Sazerac 18 YR Rye was named “Best Rye Whiskey Aged 11 Years and Over” by “Jim Murray’s Whisky Bible.” This 2019 straight rye whiskey release has notable flavors of vanilla and maple syrup, with a finish of black pepper and spearmint. The barrels for this whiskey were filled in the spring of 2001 and it rested on the second floor of Warehouses K and L.
NOSE
Rye grain | Oak | Light dried apple and apricot | Fresh leather | Hint of anise | Burnt caramel | Touch of toasted marshmallow | Gentle & nicely integrated
Summer fruits | Rye spice | Light aged oak | White peppercorn | Gentle vanilla syrup | Baking spice | Smattering of hard caramel candies | Well balanced
finish
Light leather | Slight vanilla syrup | Rye spice | Peppercorn spice blend | Dry aged oak | Undulating heat | Lingering
overall
After experiencing several years of ups and downs, the 2022 version of Sazerac 18 Year shows that the brand is back on track to starting to match its former glory years.
Since 2016, Sazerac 18 Year has been new-aged stock after moving away from the famed “steel tanked” years that preceded it. Since that time, the rye has been trying to find its footing, delivering just average to well above average pours, but never quite reaching the same level that the steel tanked batch had attained. Well, that has finally changed in 2022, as Sazerac 18 Rye is back on solid footing, delivering a pour that will definitely please its fan base.
The sip is full of light and sweet flavors along with well-defined classic aged rye characteristics. It starts with a nicely integrated nose that pulls forward lighter sweet notes that rest on a foundation of rye grain and oak. The palate is very well balanced and allows spicier notes to intermingle with sweeter notes, specifically a gentle vanilla syrup note that provides a welcome intrigue. The finish shows signs of its 18 years in oak, displaying dry aged oak notes that play off of its spice and heat quite nicely. I pulled out an bottle of a 2014 Sazerac 18 Year to compare it to, and while the 2022 version isn’t quite the same exceptional pour that those steel tanked years afforded, it comes pretty darn close. It’s safe to say that Sazerac 18 Year is back and that the future is bright for this line in the Antique Collection.
