Thomas H. Handy Sazerac Straight Rye Whiskey (2015 Antique Collection)

Name: Thomas H. Handy Sazerac Straight Rye Whiskey (2015 Antique Collection)
Brand: Buffalo Trace
SKU: 088004000035-15
Price: 1299.95 USD
Availability: InStock

Price

$1,299.95

/

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

Age: 6 Years 2 Months (2015 Release) | Region: Frankfort, Kentucky, USA | Proof: 126.9

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Adult signature (21+) at delivery

126.9

Proof

63.45%

ABV

750 mL

Format

6Y 2M

Age at Bottling

30.2%

Loss

Kentucky

Region

Thomas H. Handy Sazerac is the uncut, unfiltered rye of the Buffalo Trace Antique Collection. The 2015 release was distilled in spring 2009, aged 6 years 2 months on the fourth and seventh floors of Warehouses I, K and M, and bottled at 126.9 proof from 58 hand-picked barrels.

Nº 01

The Elemental Distinction

01

A true rye recipe, not a low-rye one: Minnesota rye as the large grain, Kentucky corn as the small grain, and North Dakota malted barley to finish.

02

Low 30.23% evaporation loss: Floors 4 and 7 of Warehouses I, K, and M retained high liquid volume relative to the long-aged bourbons in the 2015 set.

03

126.9 barrel proof, totally unfiltered: Entered wood at 125 proof, distilled off the still at 135 proof, and bottled straight from the wood without dilution or chill filtration.

04

Vibrant youth counterweight: Aged 6 years 2 months to preserve raw, vibrant rye grain spice before heavy oak cellaring masks its architecture.

05

58 Hand-Picked Barrels: Drawn from a precision allocation of 58 barrels aged across three historic Frankfort rickhouses.

Nº 02

Buffalo Trace Distillery & Sazerac Heritage

Frankfort Cask-Strength Rye Legacy

Distilled at Buffalo Trace Distillery (DSP-KY-113) in Frankfort, Kentucky, Thomas H. Handy honors the legendary 19th-century New Orleans saloon owner who first popularized rye whiskey in the classic Sazerac cocktail. Bottled at full barrel strength, this expression delivers the pure, uncompromised energy of Buffalo Trace's benchmark straight rye distillate.

Nº 03

Craftsmanship & Cask Architecture

Minnesota Rye & Upper Rickhouse Aging

Ancestral Mash Platform

Minnesota Rye Grain Core

Distilled from large-grain Minnesota rye, Kentucky corn, and North Dakota malted barley for intense grain spice and pepper complexity.

Warehouses I, K & M

Floors 4 & 7 Maturation

Aged on upper rickhouse decks over 6 years 2 months, experiencing active temperature swings while yielding a low 30.23% evaporation loss.

126.9 Barrel Proof

Uncut & Unfiltered

Bottled straight from the cask at 126.9 proof (63.45% ABV) without chill filtration or dilution loops, preserving all natural grain oils.

Independent Stave Oak

#4 Heavy Char Cooperage

Entered the barrel at 125 proof in new 53-gallon American white oak barrels subjected to a 55-second #4 char fire treatment.

Nº 04

Sensory Profile & Strategy

Distillery Tasting Notes

I

Sensory Profile

Nose: Intricate aromas of sweet fig, spicy clove, and warm allspice.
Palate: Powerful and spice-forward; vibrant fig, bold clove, and deep allspice layered over a fiery cask-strength core.
Finish: Long, warm, and extended; trailing notes of allspice, sweet coconut, and toasted nutmeg.

† Official tasting notes provided directly by Buffalo Trace Distillery.

II

Strategic Position

Handy is the Antique Collection's young, high-strength counterweight, and 2015 is a useful year to hold because the whole set is documented. Compare it with the slightly stronger 2014 Handy at 129.2 proof and the 127.2-proof 2017 Handy, or pair it against the last Sazerac 18 drawn from the steel tank in Midnight Whiskey's vault.

Nº 05

Collector Note & Index

Vault Provenance

→

Antique Collection Benchmark

An essential high-proof cornerstone of the 2015 BTAC lineup, backed by full primary distillery production sheets.

→

Rye Whiskey 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 IndexTHH 2015 RELEASE

Distillery: Buffalo Trace (DSP-KY-113)
Series Position: 2015 BTAC Allocation
Category: Kentucky Straight Rye
Proof / ABV: 126.9 Proof (63.45% ABV)
Age Statement: 6 Years 2 Months (Distilled 2009)
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	2015 Buffalo Trace Antique Collection (BTAC)
CATEGORY	Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey (Cask Strength)
AGE AT BOTTLING	6 Years 2 Months (Distilled Spring 2009, Bottled Fall 2015)
PROOF / ABV	126.9 Proof / 63.45% ABV (Uncut & Unfiltered)
GRAIN RECIPE	Minnesota Rye, Kentucky Corn, North Dakota Malted Barley
WAREHOUSE / FLOORS	Warehouses I, K & M (Floors 4 & 7; 30.23% Loss)
BATCH SIZE	58 Hand-Picked Barrels
REGION	Frankfort, Kentucky, USA
FORMAT	750 mL
SKU	088004000035-15

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

Nº 07

Records & Assurance

Production Methodology

Milled through a #10 screen and cooked at 240°F with reverse-osmosis limestone water, fermented sour mash in a carbon steel and black iron fermenter. Double distilled through a beer still and doubler to 135 proof, entering new white oak at 125 proof. Barrels were Independent Stave #4 charred white oak (55-second char). Rested on floors 4 and 7 of Warehouses I, K, and M for 6 years 2 months with a 30.23% evaporation loss across 58 hand-selected barrels before bottling uncut and unfiltered at 126.9 proof.

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

How old is the 2015 Thomas H. Handy?

Buffalo Trace's release letter for the 2015 Thomas H. Handy Sazerac gives an age of 6 years 2 months at bottling, from a spring 2009 distillation. Age varies release to release for this whiskey, and the 2015 figure belongs to this bottling only.

What grain recipe is the 2015 Thomas H. Handy made from?

Buffalo Trace lists Minnesota rye as the large grain in the 2015 Thomas H. Handy Sazerac, with Kentucky corn as the small grain and North Dakota malted barley as the finish grain. It is the distillery's rye recipe, not the corn-led mash behind its bourbons. Buffalo Trace does not publish the percentages.

How much of the 2015 Thomas H. Handy was lost to evaporation?

Buffalo Trace reports 30.23% evaporation loss for the 2015 Thomas H. Handy Sazerac. That is far less than the bourbons released alongside it that year, which ran from 66.1% for the Eagle Rare 17 up to 84.46% for the George T. Stagg, and it reflects both the shorter maturation and the floors the barrels sat on.

Midnight Whiskey · The Vault Buffalo Trace Distillery · Thomas H. Handy Sazerac (2015 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

The Elemental Distinction

Buffalo Trace Distillery & Sazerac Heritage