Overview
Thomas Handy is part of the Buffalo Trace Antique Collection, a fall release featuring limited-production offerings of their famous mashes. The Thomas Handy Rye is most likely Buffalo Trace Traditional Rye Mash bill bottled uncut and unfiltered.
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DETAILS
REVIEW
RARITY
DISTILLERY
Buffalo Trace
MASTER DISTILLER
Harlen Wheatly
AGE
NAS (6 Years)
PROOF
124-134 | 62-67% ABV
FIRST RELEASE
2006
RELEASE FREQ
Annual (LE)
MASH
REVIEW52%
RYE
38%
CORN
10%
BARLEY
PALATE: Lush toffee sweetness and dark chocolate with hints of vanilla, fudge, nougat and molasses. Underlying notes of dates, tobacco, dark berries, spearmint and a hint of coffee round out the palate.
HISTORY LESSON
REVIEWThomas Handy is one of the few bourbons allegedly not named for a distiller or operator, but rather a different kind of bourbon pioneer. According to Buffalo Trace, Thomas Handy is named for the now famous New Orleans bartender who first used rye whiskey in the Sazerac Cocktail.
It only make sense then that Buffalo Trace, owned by the “Sazerac” company, would name the uncut and unfiltered version of their Sazerac rye after a bold bourbon pioneer.
REVIEW
Each Thomas Handy Rye release varies slightly in age and proof, but the bourbon should exemplify:
NOSE: Well-aged oak leads into rich vanilla, brown sugar, some slight earthiness and that classic cherry and subtle citrus the Buffalo Trace Mash Bill #1 is known for.
SIP: The sip opens right where you would expect, sweet caramel over rich oak with hints of cherry. After the initial sweet notes, it waves in hints of darker fruits and closes in on some nice rye spice, pepper and even some of that earthiness. Overall the pour is perfectly harmonious with sweet and spice over light oak and dark fruit. It is truly well-aged, classic bourbon in every sense.
For an in-depth review of each Eagle Rare 17 release, see Reviews.
WHAT IS IT?
Thomas Handy Rye is the uncut and unfiltered rye entry into the Buffalo Trace Antique Collection aged for around 6 years.
The Thomas Handy Rye was the final addition to the current 5 bottle Fall release of the Buffalo Trace Antique Collection, better known as BTAC. While this is technically not a “brand” but a collection of different brands, the release is still widely regarded as a single compilation. In fact, the bottles within the release are so closely tied together even Buffalo Trace considers the collection a brand on their website.
More about Buffalo Trace Antique.
The initial release of the Antique Collection was in 2000 with low proof premium offerings of their famous mashes. The Sazerac 18 was the rye mash offering up until 2006. In 2002, with the release and resounding success of George T. Stagg, the first barrel proof offering of any Buffalo Trace mash, the distillery began to offer uncut, barrel proof versions of their other mashes.
In 2006, the first high proof offering of their traditional rye mash was released and called Thomas Handy Rye. Seeing how this was the first barrel cut rye in the modern era of Buffalo Trace, Thomas Handy was a completely new brand upon its release.
Though there are many high proof ryes available on the market today, when Thomas Handy was released in 2006, it was one of the few barrel proof rye offerings available. There was certainly hesitation as to its reception, but that was short lived as Thomas Handy became an instant hit.
The bourbon is meant to be a bold rye expression, and that’s just what it is. Though Thomas Handy usually falls toward the bottom of the BTAC releases among fans, it is more a reflection of the bourbons within the release than that of this rye. Each year this premium selection of high proof rye creates a truly unique pour perfect for anyone who loves bold rye flavors.
IS IT HARD TO FIND?
As far as BTAC bottles go, this one is definitely the most attainable, though that might not mean much. The distillery releases somewhere around 30-40,000 bottles, which is the most of any BTAC, but in addition, typically Handy isn’t the most sought after of the five. As such, the secondary market is not nearly as crazy on this bottle which makes it a little easier to find, but harder to find at a reasonable price. In other words, this bottle does not typically command crazy secondary prices so bottles finding this bottle at reasonable secondary prices isn’t easy as they get bought up quickly, but you’ll certainly see some collecting dust on shelves because someone wants $1,000 for it. Sorry friend, no one is paying that. Remember it is a fall release, so often you will see them around Novemeber-January.
IS IT WORTH IT?
Worth the hype? It is a unique pour certainly worth a try. Worth the MSRP? It is probably priced at MSRP about where it should be. Worth the ridiculous secondary prices? Definitely not in today’s market.
Like most of the BTAC releases, this is a truly a great pour. I’d say this in the must try for any bourbon enthusiast just to appreciate the complexity of a low aged high proof rye. As far as a bottle, this is not for everyone.
As I mentioned, it’s sad when you see the Handy collecting dust at the local liquor store because they think someone will walk in and pay $1,00 for it. Unless you’ve won the lottery and love ryes, it’s just not a unique enough bottle in today’s world of high proof bourbon to spend that kind of money on. Realistically for the quality of the pour, anything north of about $250 is a questionable ask. However, a pour should be on everyone’s list, but again within reason. Anything under $50 seems reasonably fair. I laugh out loud when some bars try to charge $150 for Handy…I mean, really?
More about worth here: Worth it?
IS IT FOR YOU?
If you’ve been reading this far then you probably know, if you like high proof rye, this is for you. Even if you lean ryes, this one is probably for you as well. It drinks surprisingly lower than the proof might suggest. That said, if you are strictly not a rye drinker, then I might consider passing on this one (though I would always suggest you try it).
If you consider yourself somewhere in between a rye drinker and not, then you should certainly try this. It may be a bit spicy or hot, but then again you might find yourself a rye fan. The bold complex flavor of this bourbon release makes it for those who love rye mashes and even those just getting to know them.
RELEASES
| Release | Age | Proof | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 6y 2m | 124.9 | 2 |
| 2022 | 6y 4m | 130.9 | 6 |
| 2021 | 6y 4m | 129.5 | 5 |
| 2020 | 6y 2m | 129.0 | 5 |
| 2019 | 6y 2m | 125.7 | 7 |
| 2018 | 6y 4m | 128.8 | 3 |
| 2017 | 6y 5m | 127.2 | 4 |
| 2016 | 6y 3m | 126.2 | NA |
| 2015 | 6y 2m | 126.9 | NA |
| 2014 | 6y 3m | 129.2 | NA |
| 2013 | 6y 4m | 128.4 | 1 |
| 2012 | 6y 3m | 132.4 | NA |
| 2011 | 6y 5m | 128.6 | NA |
| 2010 | 6y 3m | 126.9 | NA |
| 2009 | 7y 3m | 129 | NA |
| 2008 | 6y 5m | 127.5 | NA |
| 2007 | 6y 5m | 134.8 | NA |
| 2006 | 8y 5m | 132.7 | NA |