Sazerac Rye Whiskey / First Production Run Of 1000

Sazerac Rye Whiskey / First Production Run Of 1000

Sazerac gives little if any nip to the nose even with heavy draws. The whiskey is herbal with notes of both rye and corn. I also sense fresh apples and tropical notes in the aroma as well. The spices of cinnamon, nutmeg and rye are faint but they seem to help with a lingering aroma of an empty cinnamon-apple pie tin. There is sweetness here too which comes to the nose as light vanilla, simple syrup, and buttery caramel toffee. This rye is not woody by any means but there are traces of light drying oak and a little toasted wood. Sazarac is gentle and fresh and it smells great.

Sazerac is warm and herbal rye like on the nose I taste grain and corn. In the back of the palate, I get soft, sweet apples, and tropical fruit dance on the tongue as well. Spices of faint cinnamon, pepper and rye boost the sweets of simple syrup, slightly burnt caramel and light molasses. And like on the nose, the woodiness is faint and tastes of dry old oak and smoky-sweet barrel char. I cannot say this rye is earthy but there is depth here.

The initial sip of Sazerac fades with a medium finish. But as I continue to sip, the finish grows soft, long and warm. I sense no fruit but I do feel faint spices of pepper and rye and sweets of vanilla custard and buttery caramel. As each sip goes down, old oak and barrel char help bolster the earthy but fresh finish. And when the last dram is downed, all the aromas and flavors can be drawn from the empty Glencairn.