Buffalo Trace's 2017 release data gives the full path. Minnesota rye as the large grain, Kentucky corn (distillers grade #1 and #2) as the small grain and North Dakota malted barley as the finish grain were milled through a #10 screen, cooked at 240°F in Kentucky limestone water treated by reverse osmosis, fermented as a sour mash in carbon steel and black iron fermenters, and double distilled through a beer still and doubler to 135 proof. The spirit entered new white oak barrels from Independent Stave — #4 char, charred 55 seconds, 53 liquid gallons — at 125 proof in the spring of 1998 and aged on the second floor of Warehouse K. In 2016 the 25 barrels chosen for this release, down 72.7% from their original fill, were emptied into a stainless steel tank; the whiskey was later chill filtered and bottled at 90 proof for the fall 2017 release.

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.

Is the 2017 Sazerac 18 from the old steel-tanked stock?

Not the old stock, but it is tanked whiskey. The 2017 Sazerac 18 was distilled at Buffalo Trace in the spring of 1998, not 1985, and aged 18 years in new charred oak; in 2016 its barrels were emptied into a stainless steel tank, which halted its aging, and the fall 2017 release was bottled from that tank at 90 proof.

Why is the 2017 Sazerac 18 labeled 18 years old if it was distilled in 1998?

Because its time in oak ended in 2016. Buffalo Trace filled the barrels in the spring of 1998, emptied them into a stainless steel tank after 18 years, and bottled the whiskey for the fall 2017 Antique Collection. The tank added no wood age, so Buffalo Trace records the 2017 Sazerac 18 as 18 years old at bottling.

What are Buffalo Trace's tasting notes for the 2017 Sazerac 18?

Buffalo Trace describes the 2017 Sazerac 18 as leather, clove and allspice. For the 2016 release, distilled in the same spring of 1998, the distillery's note read smoke, clove and allspice with a dry finish, so leather is the new element in the 2017 description.