Sazerac 18 Year Old Rye Whiskey 2021
Sazerac 18 Year Old Rye Whiskey 2021 is a 45% ABV (90-proof) Kentucky straight rye whiskey from Buffalo Trace Distillery — the 2021 release of the Buffalo Trace Antique Collection. Barreled in spring 2003 and aged 18 years, it is one of the oldest rye whiskeys bottled in America. Extremely limited and allocated — order online at Del Mesa Liquor, San Diego, CA.
- ABV/Proof: 45% ABV / 90 proof
- Size: 750mL
- Aging: 18 years; #4 charred new American oak, Warehouses K and P
- Origin: Buffalo Trace Distillery, Frankfort, Kentucky (Sazerac Company)
- Production: Kentucky straight rye (rye/corn/malted barley mash bill); barrel entry 125 proof; chill filtered; 69% evaporation loss over 18 years
Eighteen Years in the Making
Every fall, the Buffalo Trace Antique Collection is the most anticipated whiskey release in America, and Sazerac 18 is its elder statesman — the rye that spends the longest in wood of any regularly released American rye. The 2021 edition was barreled in spring 2003 and lost 69% of every barrel to evaporation over eighteen years, concentrating what remained into something dense and complex. Notably, 2021 was also the year no George T. Stagg appeared in the collection — Buffalo Trace judged the pulled barrels unworthy of the Stagg name. Bottles like this rarely sit on shelves; the Sazerac 18 is the crown of most rye whiskey collections.
Tasting Notes
Distillery notes: bright apples and herbs, anise and maple syrup on the palate, with a finish of cocoa, coffee, and dates. Reviewers found marzipan and lemon zest, vanillin and crème brûlée, butterscotch, green herbs, old sherry character, and a woodier, tougher leather finish than older Sazerac 18 bottlings.
How to Enjoy
Neat, with patience — eighteen years of oak rewards slow sipping. A single drop of water can open the fruit; ice is optional but will mute the most interesting edges.
Frequently Asked Questions
How old is Sazerac 18 2021?
18 years — barreled in spring 2003.
What proof is Sazerac Rye 18 2021?
90 proof — the lowest proof of that year's Antique Collection.
Why was there no 2021 George T. Stagg?
Buffalo Trace said the pulled barrels did not meet the Stagg profile that year.
Did it win Whisky Bible awards?
The "Best Rye Over 15 Years" honor went to the 2020 edition — not this 2021 bottle.
Allocated bottles like this don't wait around: add Sazerac 18 2021 to your cart online at Del Mesa Liquor before it's gone.