Thomas H. Handy Sazerac Straight Rye Whiskey (2022 Antique Collection)

Name: Thomas H. Handy Sazerac Straight Rye Whiskey (2022 Antique Collection)
Brand: Buffalo Trace
SKU: 088004000035-22
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 4 Months (2022 Release) | Region: Frankfort, Kentucky, USA | Proof: 130.9

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Vault-to-door shipping

Adult signature (21+) at delivery

130.9

Proof

65.45%

ABV

750 mL

Format

6Y 4M

Age at Bottling

31.0%

Loss

Kentucky

Region

Thomas H. Handy Sazerac Straight Rye Whiskey is the uncut, unfiltered rye of the Buffalo Trace Antique Collection, made by Buffalo Trace Distillery in Frankfort, Kentucky. The 2022 release was distilled in the spring of 2016, aged 6 years and 4 months in warehouses I, L and M, and bottled at 130.9 proof (65.45% ABV) — the highest strength for this whiskey since 2012.

Nº 01

The Elemental Distinction

01

Highest since 2012: Buffalo Trace records the 2022 release at 130.9 proof (65.45% ABV), the strongest Handy in a decade of annual bottlings.

02

Filtration: none: The batch record lists no filtration and no dilution. The spirit entered new oak at 125 proof and left it higher.

03

Spread across four floors: Warehouses I, L and M, on floors 2, 4, 5 and 6 — a wider vertical spread than the 2021 batch. The batch gave up 31% of its volume to the angel's share.

04

The set came back whole: After George T. Stagg was withheld in 2021, the 2022 Antique Collection shipped as a full five bottles.

05

Named for a New Orleans bar owner: Thomas H. Handy ran the Sazerac Coffee House and is credited with first building the Sazerac cocktail on rye whiskey in place of cognac.

Nº 02

Buffalo Trace Distillery & Sazerac Heritage

Frankfort Cask-Strength Rye Legacy

Distilled at Buffalo Trace Distillery 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 I, L & M

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, L & M

Floors 2, 4, 5 & 6 Maturation

Aged across middle and upper rickhouse decks over 6 years 4 months, driving rich wood spice while yielding a 31.0% evaporation loss.

130.9 Barrel Proof

Uncut & Unfiltered

Bottled straight from the cask at 130.9 proof (65.45% 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: Elegant floral aromas, sharp anise, bright orange marmalade, and rich meringue.
Palate: High viscosity and spice-forward; warming baking spice, zesty orange peel, and subtle dark chocolate.
Finish: Long, intricate, and drying; ground cinnamon, toasted praline, and candied orange strings.

† Official tasting notes provided directly by Buffalo Trace Distillery.

II

Strategic Position

2022 is the year the Antique Collection came back to five. Handy arrived at its strongest in a decade, sharing the box with the 138.7-proof Stagg that returned in 2022. Compare it directly with the 2021 Handy from that four-bottle year and the 124.9-proof 2023 Handy in Midnight Whiskey's vault.

Nº 05

Collector Note & Index

Vault Provenance

→

American Whiskey Masters Master Medal

Honored with a Master Medal at The Spirits Business 2023 American Whiskey Masters competition.

→

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 2022 RELEASE

Distillery: Buffalo Trace (DSP-KY-113)
Series Position: 2022 BTAC Allocation
Category: Kentucky Straight Rye
Proof / ABV: 130.9 Proof (65.45% ABV)
Age Statement: 6 Years 4 Months (Distilled 2016)
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	2022 Buffalo Trace Antique Collection (BTAC)
CATEGORY	Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey (Cask Strength)
AGE AT BOTTLING	6 Years 4 Months (Distilled Spring 2016, Bottled Fall 2022)
PROOF / ABV	130.9 Proof / 65.45% ABV (Uncut & Unfiltered)
GRAIN RECIPE	Minnesota Rye, Kentucky Corn, North Dakota Malted Barley
WAREHOUSE / FLOORS	Warehouses I, L & M (Floors 2, 4, 5 & 6; 31.0% Loss)
ACCOLADES	Master Medal Winner · 2023 American Whiskey Masters
REGION	Frankfort, Kentucky, USA
FORMAT	750 mL
SKU	088004000035-22

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

Nº 07

Records & Assurance

Production Methodology

Buffalo Trace distils Thomas H. Handy on its rye recipe — Minnesota rye as the large grain, Kentucky corn as the small grain, North Dakota malted barley to finish — cooked at 240 degrees, fermented sour in carbon steel, and run twice through a beer still and doubler to come off at 135 proof. The spirit entered new white oak at 125 proof, in barrels charred to a number four level for fifty-five seconds by Independent Stave. The 2022 batch matured in warehouses I, L and M across floors 2, 4, 5 and 6, a spread that takes in both cooler low racks and warmer upper ones; 31% of the original volume was gone by the time the whiskey was dumped at 6 years and 4 months. Buffalo Trace's record for the batch lists filtration as none, so the 130.9 proof on the label is the strength the wood returned.

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 strong is the 2022 Thomas H. Handy?

The 2022 Thomas H. Handy Sazerac is bottled at 130.9 proof, or 65.45% alcohol by volume, which Buffalo Trace records as the highest strength for this whiskey since 2012. It is bottled uncut and unfiltered, so the figure is what the wood returned rather than a target the distillery proofed down to. The spirit went into the barrel at 125 proof and came out higher.

When was the 2022 Thomas H. Handy distilled and bottled?

Buffalo Trace distilled the 2022 Thomas H. Handy Sazerac in the spring of 2016 and bottled it in the autumn of 2022, at 6 years and 4 months old. The barrels rested in warehouses I, L and M across floors 2, 4, 5 and 6, and gave up 31% of their original volume to the angel's share. Thomas H. Handy carries no age statement on its label.

Was George T. Stagg part of the 2022 Antique Collection?

Yes. Buffalo Trace withheld George T. Stagg from the 2021 Antique Collection because those barrels did not meet the brand's standard, then returned it to the 2022 set at 138.7 proof, distilled in the spring of 2007 and 15 years and 5 months old at bottling. The 2022 collection shipped as a full five bottles: George T. Stagg, William Larue Weller, Thomas H. Handy Sazerac, Eagle Rare 17 Year Old and Sazerac Rye 18 Year Old.

Midnight Whiskey · The Vault Buffalo Trace Distillery · Thomas H. Handy Sazerac (2022 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