Thomas H. Handy Sazerac Straight Rye Whiskey (2023 Antique Collection)

Name: Thomas H. Handy Sazerac Straight Rye Whiskey (2023 Antique Collection)
Brand: Buffalo Trace
SKU: 088004000035-23
Price: 529.95 USD
Availability: InStock

Price

$529.95

/

✔ 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 (2023 Release) | Region: Frankfort, Kentucky, USA | Proof: 124.9

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Vault-to-door shipping

Adult signature (21+) at delivery

124.9

Proof

62.45%

ABV

750 mL

Format

6Y 2M

Age at Bottling

27%

Loss

Kentucky

Region

Thomas H. Handy Sazerac Straight Rye Whiskey 2023 is Buffalo Trace Distillery's uncut, unfiltered rye in the Buffalo Trace Antique Collection. Distilled in the spring of 2017 and bottled at 124.9 proof (62.45% ABV), the 2023 release spent six years and two months on floors 3 and 4 of Warehouse S and gave up 27% of its volume to evaporation.

Nº 01

The Elemental Distinction

01

It came out weaker than it went in: Buffalo Trace filled these barrels at 125 proof in 2017; six years and two months later the batch bottled at 124.9 — a tenth of a point under fill strength.

02

One warehouse, two floors: The batch record names Warehouse S, floors 3 and 4 — a narrower selection than the multi-warehouse spreads behind the 2021 and 2022 batches.

03

Uncut and unfiltered: Buffalo Trace records filtration as none for this release; nothing was added or taken out after the barrel.

04

27% to the angel's share: The distillery's release notes put evaporation loss for this batch at 27% over six years and two months.

05

Ancestral Rye Recipe Platform: Distilled from Minnesota rye, Kentucky corn, and North Dakota malted barley.

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 & Warehouse S 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.

Warehouse S Maturation

Floors 3 & 4 Microclimate

Aged on middle rickhouse decks over 6 years 2 months, experiencing active temperature swings while yielding a controlled 27% evaporation loss.

124.9 Barrel Proof

Uncut & Unfiltered

Bottled straight from the cask at 124.9 proof (62.45% 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: Vibrant bursts of fresh orange zest and expressive lemon oil over sweet caramel, with a subtle undertone of fresh pine.
Palate: High viscosity without overwhelming heat; freshly baked rye bread meeting vibrant orange marmalade, raw clover honey, and complex baking spices.
Finish: Long, layered, and texturally complex; light seasoned oak transitioning smoothly into deep black licorice and warm herbal rye oils.

† Official tasting notes provided directly by Buffalo Trace Distillery.

II

Strategic Position

Handy is the youngest whiskey in the Antique Collection, and the proof line is the reason to date a bottle rather than treat the years as interchangeable. At 124.9 this batch sits under the 2022 Handy that ran six proof points hotter and under the 2024 Handy that climbed back to 127.2 proof. Compare it directly with the 19-year Eagle Rare that headlined the 2023 set in Midnight Whiskey's vault.

Nº 05

Collector Note & Index

Vault Provenance

→

Antique Collection Benchmark

An essential high-proof cornerstone of the 2023 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 2023 RELEASE

Distillery: Buffalo Trace (DSP-KY-113)
Series Position: 2023 BTAC Allocation
Category: Kentucky Straight Rye
Proof / ABV: 124.9 Proof (62.45% ABV)
Age Statement: 6 Years 2 Months (Distilled 2017)
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	2023 Buffalo Trace Antique Collection (BTAC)
CATEGORY	Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey (Cask Strength)
AGE AT BOTTLING	6 Years 2 Months (Distilled Spring 2017, Bottled Fall 2023)
PROOF / ABV	124.9 Proof / 62.45% ABV (Uncut & Unfiltered)
GRAIN RECIPE	Minnesota Rye, Kentucky Corn, North Dakota Malted Barley
WAREHOUSE / FLOORS	Warehouse S (Floors 3 & 4; 27% Loss)
REGION	Frankfort, Kentucky, USA
FORMAT	750 mL
SKU	088004000035-23

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

Nº 07

Records & Assurance

Production Methodology

Buffalo Trace distils its straight rye recipe to 135 proof off the still and fills the barrel at 125. The barrels behind the 2023 release went into the wood in the spring of 2017 and were drawn from floors 3 and 4 of Warehouse S — one warehouse, two floors, against the multi-warehouse spreads the distillery used for the 2021 and 2022 batches. Over six years and two months the batch lost 27% of its volume to evaporation and came out at 124.9 proof. The distillery lists filtration as none: the whiskey is bottled at whatever 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

Why is the 2023 Thomas H. Handy lower proof than usual?

Buffalo Trace bottles Thomas H. Handy Sazerac straight from the barrel with no water added, so the proof follows what the wood returns and moves from year to year. The 2023 release spent six years and two months on floors 3 and 4 of Warehouse S, lost 27% of its volume to evaporation, and came out at 124.9 proof (62.45% ABV) — under both the 2022 and the 2024 releases of the same whiskey.

Which warehouse was the 2023 Thomas H. Handy aged in?

Buffalo Trace's batch record for the 2023 Thomas H. Handy Sazerac names a single warehouse: Warehouse S, floors 3 and 4. That is a narrower selection than the multi-warehouse spreads behind the 2021 and 2022 releases. The whiskey was distilled in the spring of 2017 and bottled six years and two months later.

What are Buffalo Trace's tasting notes for the 2023 Thomas H. Handy?

Buffalo Trace's published notes for the 2023 Thomas H. Handy Sazerac give orange zest and lemon oil on the nose over caramel, with a pine edge. The palate is rye bread with orange marmalade and honey, and the finish runs long on light oak and black licorice. As a barrel-proof rye at 124.9 proof, impressions vary by palate.

Midnight Whiskey · The Vault Buffalo Trace Distillery · Thomas H. Handy Sazerac (2023 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