Thomas H. Handy Sazerac Straight Rye Whiskey (2019 Antique Collection)

Name: Thomas H. Handy Sazerac Straight Rye Whiskey (2019 Antique Collection)
Brand: Buffalo Trace
SKU: 088004000035-19
Price: 549.95 USD
Availability: InStock

Price

$549.95

/

✔ 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 (2019 Release) | Region: Frankfort, Kentucky, USA | Proof: 125.7

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Vault-to-door shipping

Adult signature (21+) at delivery

125.7

Proof

62.85%

ABV

750 mL

Format

6Y 2M

Age at Bottling

26.0%

Loss

Kentucky

Region

Thomas H. Handy Sazerac 2019 is the uncut, unfiltered straight rye whiskey in Buffalo Trace Distillery's 2019 Antique Collection. Buffalo Trace distilled it in the spring of 2013, aged it on floors 3, 4 and 5 of Warehouses N, M and K, and bottled it in the fall of 2019 at 125.7 proof (62.85% ABV) after 6 years and 2 months in the barrel.

Nº 01

The Elemental Distinction

01

Filtration: none. Buffalo Trace's batch record for this release lists no filtration — the whiskey goes into the bottle uncut at the strength the barrels reached, off a still proof of 135 and a barrel entry proof of 125.

02

6 years and 2 months at bottling: The youngest whiskey in the 2019 Antique Collection; the next-youngest, that year's William Larue Weller, ran 12 years and 6 months.

03

Only 26.0% lost to evaporation: The lightest angel's share in the 2019 set by a wide margin — the Sazerac 18 released beside it gave up 83.5%.

04

Floors 3, 4 and 5 of Warehouses N, M and K: The same floor band Buffalo Trace used for the 2017 release, from a different warehouse group.

05

Chairman's Trophy & 99 Points: Awarded the top Chairman's Trophy accolade as the leading American rye whiskey at the 2020 Ultimate Spirits Challenge.

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 & Warehouses N, M & K

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 N, M & K

Floors 3, 4 & 5 Maturation

Aged on middle rickhouse decks over 6 years 2 months, experiencing active temperature swings while yielding a low 26.0% evaporation loss.

125.7 Barrel Proof

Uncut & Unfiltered

Bottled straight from the cask at 125.7 proof (62.85% 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: Crème brûlée and spearmint with a delicate hint of floral notes.
Palate: Creamy butterscotch and rich vanilla bean integrate with bold rye grain heat.
Finish: Long, crisp, and clean; baking spices and dark chocolate fading to a subtle hint of cedar wood.

† Official tasting notes provided directly by Buffalo Trace Distillery.

II

Strategic Position

The 2019 sits at the bottom of a narrow proof band that Thomas H. Handy held across three consecutive falls, below the 128.8-proof 2018 Handy and below the 2020 Handy distilled in the spring of 2014. Compare it directly with the 116.9-proof Stagg from that same fall within Midnight Whiskey's vault.

Nº 05

Collector Note & Index

Vault Provenance

→

Chairman's Trophy 99-Point Winner

Captured top Chairman's Trophy accolades with an extraordinary 99-point score at the 2020 Ultimate Spirits Challenge.

→

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 2019 RELEASE

Distillery: Buffalo Trace (DSP-KY-113)
Series Position: 2019 BTAC Allocation
Category: Kentucky Straight Rye
Proof / ABV: 125.7 Proof (62.85% ABV)
Age Statement: 6 Years 2 Months (Distilled 2013)
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	2019 Buffalo Trace Antique Collection (BTAC)
CATEGORY	Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey (Cask Strength)
AGE AT BOTTLING	6 Years 2 Months (Distilled Spring 2013, Bottled Fall 2019)
PROOF / ABV	125.7 Proof / 62.85% ABV (Uncut & Unfiltered)
GRAIN RECIPE	Minnesota Rye, Kentucky Corn, North Dakota Malted Barley
WAREHOUSE / FLOORS	Warehouses N, M & K (Floors 3, 4 & 5; 26.0% Loss)
ACCOLADES	Chairman's Trophy & 99 Points · 2020 Ultimate Spirits Challenge
REGION	Frankfort, Kentucky, USA
FORMAT	750 mL
SKU	088004000035-19

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

Nº 07

Records & Assurance

Production Methodology

Buffalo Trace's 2019 batch record for this release is complete. The grain bill runs Minnesota rye as the large grain, Kentucky corn as the small grain and North Dakota malted barley as the finish grain, milled through a #10 screen, cooked at 240°F, and fermented on a sour mash in carbon steel and black iron fermenters with Kentucky limestone water treated by reverse osmosis. Distillation is double — a beer still and a doubler — coming off at 135 proof and entering new 53-gallon white oak barrels from Independent Stave at 125 proof, under a #4 char burned for 55 seconds. Those barrels rested on the third, fourth and fifth floors of Warehouses N, M and K for 6 years and 2 months, losing 26.0% of the original whiskey to evaporation before bottling without filtration at 125.7 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 2019 Thomas H. Handy?

The 2019 Thomas H. Handy Sazerac was 6 years and 2 months old at bottling, according to Buffalo Trace Distillery's batch record for the release. It was distilled in the spring of 2013 and bottled in the fall of 2019 at 125.7 proof. Thomas H. Handy carries no age statement on the label, so the figure comes from the distillery's published record rather than the bottle.

What are the official tasting notes for the 2019 Thomas H. Handy?

Buffalo Trace Distillery's published notes for the 2019 Thomas H. Handy Sazerac are crème brûlée, spearmint and a hint of floral on the nose; creamy butterscotch and vanilla on the palate; and a long finish of baking spices, chocolate and a hint of cedar. The whiskey is bottled uncut and unfiltered at 125.7 proof.

How much of the 2019 Thomas H. Handy was lost to evaporation?

Buffalo Trace Distillery records an evaporation loss of 26.0% for the 2019 Thomas H. Handy Sazerac across its 6 years and 2 months in the barrel. That is low by Antique Collection standards, because Thomas H. Handy is the youngest whiskey in the set — the 2019 Eagle Rare 17 from the same release lost 66.0%.

Midnight Whiskey · The Vault Buffalo Trace Distillery · Thomas H. Handy Sazerac (2019 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