18 years. 2025. Sazerac 18 — the oldest age-statement expression in the Buffalo Trace Antique Collection, a Kentucky straight rye whiskey aged 18 years and one of the most historically significant American rye whiskies in annual production.
Sazerac 18 is the BTAC’s most refined expression — where GTS and WLW deliver cask strength intensity, Saz18 is bottled at a moderate proof that allows 18 years of rye maturation to express itself without proof heat. The result is a rye whiskey of unusual elegance: dried fruit, leather, oak, and the spice of the rye grain fully integrated after nearly two decades in the barrel.
The rye whiskey revival has made long-aged American rye one of the most sought-after categories, and Sazerac 18 remains the benchmark — the annual standard against which all other aged American ryes are measured. The Wooden Cork Saz18 vertical spans from the 2001 vintage through the 2025 current release.
Tasting Notes
- Nose: Dried fruit, vanilla, leather, gentle rye spice
- Palate: Dark fruit, oak, cinnamon, black pepper, toffee
- Finish: Long, warming, persistent spice and dried fruit
Specs
- Distillery: Buffalo Trace, Frankfort, Kentucky
- Style: Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey
- Series: Buffalo Trace Antique Collection (BTAC)
- Age: 18 years
- Vintage: 2025
- Size: 750ml
Explore the full Sazerac 18 vertical at Wooden Cork.
Frequently Asked Questions
- How does Sazerac 18 differ from Thomas H. Handy in the BTAC? Both are rye whiskies, but Saz18 is 18 years old at a moderate bottling proof — refined and elegant. THH is a young rye (6–8 years typically) bottled at cask strength (130–140+ proof) — bold and intense. Opposite ends of the rye spectrum within the same collection.
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