Sazerac Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey 18 Years Old Summer 2014

Palate: Like last years’, I find that Sazera 18-Year-Old delivers a really pure expression of rye. There’s a slightly green, stemmy note in the entry that builds to a nice bold crescendo of burnt caramel, dried herbs, black pepper, and dill pickle. It’s very sweet and full on the palate, with a filled-out feeling and a dense, mouth-coating texture. Ninety proof feels like the perfect strength. The finish is long and dill-inflected with a lot of mellow, integrated oak spice.