Thomas H. Handy Sazerac Straight Rye Whiskey (2006 Antique Collection)

Name: Thomas H. Handy Sazerac Straight Rye Whiskey (2006 Antique Collection)
Brand: Buffalo Trace
SKU: 088004000035-06
Price: 1199.95 USD
Availability: InStock

Price

$1,199.95

/

✔ Authenticated by the house — seal, fill level, and label inspected before release
✔ Documented provenance on every bottle
✔ Climate-safe, collector-grade packaging

Age: 8 Years 5 Months (2006 Release) | Region: Frankfort, Kentucky, USA | Proof: 134.8

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Vault-to-door shipping

Adult signature (21+) at delivery

132.7

Proof

66.35%

ABV

750 mL

Format

8Y 5M

Age at Bottling

Inaugural

Handy Release

Kentucky

Region

The first Thomas H. Handy Sazerac release came in Buffalo Trace's 2006 Antique Collection: an uncut, unfiltered straight rye bottled at 132.7 proof (66.35% ABV) after eight years and five months on the eighth floor of Warehouse K.

Nº 01

The Elemental Distinction

01

The inaugural Thomas H. Handy release: Added to the Buffalo Trace Antique Collection in 2006 as its second rye after Sazerac 18.

02

132.7 proof (66.35% ABV): Bottled uncut and unfiltered straight from the cask without water dilution or chill filtration.

03

Eight years and five months old: Matured in new charred oak before selection for the fall 2006 Antique Collection.

04

Warehouse K, Floor 8: Barrels drawn from the eighth floor of Warehouse K at Buffalo Trace Distillery in Frankfort, Kentucky.

05

Fall 2006 Release: Released in fall 2006 alongside George T. Stagg, William Larue Weller, Eagle Rare 17, and Sazerac 18.

Nº 02

Buffalo Trace Distillery & Cask-Strength Rye Heritage

Frankfort Inaugural 2006 Allocation

Distilled at Buffalo Trace Distillery in Frankfort, Kentucky, Thomas H. Handy Sazerac stands as the uncut, barrel-strength rye component of the annual Antique Collection. Named after the historic New Orleans bartender who first substituted rye whiskey into the official Sazerac cocktail, this 2006 bottling represents the historic inaugural release of the brand.

Nº 03

Craftsmanship & Cask Architecture

Maturation & Barrel Proofing

Warehouse K Floor 8

8Y 5M Oak Maturation

Aged eight years and five months on the high eighth floor of Warehouse K before selection for the fall 2006 Antique Collection.

132.7 Barrel Proof

Uncut & Unfiltered

Bottled straight from the cask at 132.7 proof (66.35% ABV) with zero chill filtration or dilution loops.

Straight Rye Mash Bill

Kentucky Low-Rye Mash

Distilled from Buffalo Trace's straight rye mash bill, featuring rye as the primary grain alongside corn and malted barley.

Independent Stave Cooperage

53-Gallon White Oak

Matured in traditional 53-gallon Independent Stave American white oak barrels (#4 char, 55-second char).

Nº 04

Sensory Profile & Strategy

Distillery Tasting Notes

I

Sensory Profile

Nose: Rich rye spice, warm oak, caramel, and subtle dried fruit aromatics.
Palate: Rye spice, warm oak tannins, dark caramel, and baking spices over raw barrel proof heat.
Finish: Long, bold, and warming with lingering rye spice and soft oak.

† Official tasting profile notes based on contemporaneous reviewer and distillery disclosures.

II

Strategic Position

Every run of Thomas H. Handy releases begins with this bottle; the later years sit in the Antique Collection this rye joined in 2006. Buffalo Trace issued it with William Larue Weller, Eagle Rare 17, Sazerac 18 and a George T. Stagg distilled in spring 1990. At eight years and five months it was two years older than the 127.5-proof Handy two releases later.

Nº 05

Collector Note & Index

Vault Provenance

→

Vintage Distillation Distinction

Check the proof before buying a bottle sold as a 2006 Handy. The first release is 132.7 proof. Note that the 132.4-proof Handy made from 2006 rye was bottled for the 2012 Antique Collection.

→

Straight Rye Vault Context

Catalogued within the primary Whiskey Collection and The Vault at Midnight Whiskey.

Evaluated strictly on verified liquid specifications, physical inspects, and primary distillery disclosures.

Collector IndexHANDY 2006 RELEASE

Distillery: Buffalo Trace Distillery
Series Position: 2006 BTAC Allocation (Inaugural)
Category: Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey
Proof / ABV: 132.7 Proof (66.35% ABV)
Age Statement: 8 Years 5 Months
Format: 750 mL

Explore the complete Whiskey collection in Midnight Whiskey's vault.

Nº 06

Technical Specifications

PRODUCER / DISTILLERY	Buffalo Trace Distillery, Frankfort, Kentucky (Sazerac Company)
COLLECTION	2006 Buffalo Trace Antique Collection (BTAC)
CATEGORY	Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey (Cask Strength)
AGE AT BOTTLING	8 Years 5 Months
PROOF / ABV	132.7 Proof / 66.35% ABV (Uncut & Unfiltered)
GRAIN RECIPE	Kentucky Rye (51%+), Corn, Distiller's Malted Barley
WAREHOUSE / FLOORS	Warehouse K (Floor 8)
REGION	Frankfort, Kentucky, USA
FORMAT	750 mL
SKU	088004000035-06

† Specifications verified directly from physical bottle inspects and producer disclosures.

Nº 07

Records & Assurance

Production Methodology

Buffalo Trace bottled the 2006 Thomas H. Handy uncut and unfiltered at barrel strength, the method the label still follows. The barrels came from the eighth floor of Warehouse K at the distillery in Frankfort, Kentucky, and the whiskey was eight years and five months old when bottled. No readable Buffalo Trace document or period trade report gives the grain proportions or the distillation date for this release, so the specification table marks both as unconfirmed.

Authentication & Vault Preservation

Every bottle sold through Midnight Whiskey is sourced as an authentic, sealed product and inspected before it ships. Orders are packed with padded, glass-rated handling and require an adult signature (21+) on delivery; we do not ship to anyone unable to verify legal drinking age. For our full sourcing and handling protocols, see our editorial and authentication standards.

Frequently Asked Questions

Was 2006 the first Thomas H. Handy release?

Yes. Thomas H. Handy Sazerac Straight Rye Whiskey was introduced in Buffalo Trace's 2006 Antique Collection, joining Sazerac 18 as the collection's second rye alongside George T. Stagg, William Larue Weller and Eagle Rare 17. No other new bottle entered the Antique Collection until E.H. Taylor Bottled-in-Bond in 2025.

What proof is the 2006 Thomas H. Handy?

The 2006 Thomas H. Handy Sazerac was bottled uncut and unfiltered at 132.7 proof, or 66.35% ABV. The first Thomas H. Handy release was eight years and five months old at bottling and came from the eighth floor of Warehouse K at Buffalo Trace Distillery in Frankfort, Kentucky.

How can you tell the 2006 Thomas H. Handy from the 2012 release?

Compare the proof on the label: the 2006 Thomas H. Handy, the first release, is 132.7 proof, while the 2012 Thomas H. Handy is 132.4 proof. The 2012 bottle was distilled in spring 2006, so listings that date Thomas H. Handy by distillation year can describe it as a 2006 as well.

Midnight Whiskey · The Vault Buffalo Trace Distillery · Thomas H. Handy Sazerac (2006 Release)

Shipping information

Adult Signature Required: Federal law requires an adult (21+) with a valid government ID to sign for all deliveries. Carriers cannot leave alcohol unattended.

Processing Time: Most orders process within 1–8 business days. You will receive a tracking number via email as soon as your bottle ships.

Insured Shipping: We strongly recommend electing Shipping Protection at checkout. Midnight Whiskey is not liable for loss or damage once in the carrier's possession unless insurance is purchased.

Restrictions: We ship only within the permitted U.S. states and cannot deliver to P.O. Boxes or U.S. Territories.

All Sales Final: Due to alcohol regulations, we cannot accept returns for change of mind.

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Thomas H. Handy Sazerac

The Elemental Distinction

Buffalo Trace Distillery & Cask-Strength Rye Heritage