Sazerac Straight Rye Whiskey

That classic Spirit that built a Whiskey empire.

There has been Whiskey made on the site of the Buffalo Trace Distillery in Frankfort, Kentucky for more than two hundred years. The first distillery operation that can be continuously traced to Buffalo Trace was started in 1812 by Harrison Blanton (yes, that Blanton). He sold the operation in 1870 and it was renamed the Old Fire Copper (O. F. C.) Distillery. It has been bought and sold many times over the intervening decades. But Sazerac has owned the property since 1992 and it has become the flagship distillery for New Orleans-based Sazerac, producing a wide range of Whiskies and Spirits.

Sazerac Rye is the product that built the company. Although the original Sazerac cocktail was made with Cognac, it really took off when they swapped in a new house Whiskey — Sazerac Rye. Production was consolidated at the Buffalo Trace Distillery — meticulously following the same formula. The surprising thing is that this sought-after classic is still such a great value even though it is hard to get. Jim Murray of The Whiskey Bible raved about its "crispness" and gave it a 94.5 rating. Wine Enthusiast awarded a score of 95 points and rated it a "Best Buy." It has won Gold medals in both LA and San Francisco. We told Uncle Flaviar to keep it all for us here at the office but he insists on sharing the love.


Smartass Corner:
There are actually two versions of Sazerac Rye — both hard to get. There is a limited edition 18-year-old offered the Buffalo Trace’s "Antique Collection," and there is the 6-year-old. In New Orleans, the younger version is affectionately called "Baby Saz."