T.H. Handy Sazerac: Batch ID?

Only the % ABV will tell you the year of release. 129 proof/64.5% was the 2009 release ABV. The 2009 Handy was Mr. Murray's Second Finest Whisky in the World in the 2011 Jim Murray Whisky Bible. The 2012 release of Thomas H. Handy Sazerac Rye is at 132.4 proof/ 66.2% ABV.

They are like trading cards, @WhiskyBee...Collect them all!

There really isn't a go to reference for the Thomas H. Handy releases. If you poke around the interwebs you can figure out the releases by ABV. Here you go:

2012 - 66.2% 2011 - 64.3% 2010 - 63.45% 2009 - 64.5% 2008 - 63.75% 2007 - 67.4%

If I am mistaken I am sure others here could chime in (Victor?)

Looks like you have the 2009 release. What do you think of your bottle? I have a bottle of the 2009 that I have been saving for a special occasion. Curious to hear

@Victor Good call on the ABV...do you know what the abv of the 2011 was? There are ten bottles on the shelves locally of the TH Handy...be good to know which to grab!

Dang Victor you beat me to it. I hate the way my list turned out.

2nd attempt

Thomas H. Handy

2012 - 66.2%

2011 - 64.3%

2010 - 63.45%

2009 - 64.5%

2008 - 63.75%

2007 - 67.4%

Thanks much, @Victor. The local outlets appear to have some choice old stock on the shelves. In addition to the '09 Handy, I spotted an A'bundha Batch #30 the other day.

The Handy I bought was one of about six on the shelf. Don't know if it was the only '09, but it was the only unwrapped one, and the only one that appeared to have three price-tag changes -- so my instincts said, "Hm, older batch!"

N.B. Mr. Murray appears in his Whisky Bible to be under the impression that there were two releases of Thomas H. Handy Rye in 2009, one at 129 proof and one at 126.9 proof. When I bought new release Handy in Fall 2010, it was the 126.9 proof bottling. I think that Mr. Murray merely received samples of both the 129 proof 2009 release and the 126.9 proof 2010 release before the publication of the 2011 Whisky Bible. The SAC release occurs just a couple of months before the new year's whisky bible is distributed, so the SAC whiskeys reviewed in it are generally the older prior release, and not the release just starting to come out as the book is going to press, eg 2009 release for 2011 Bible, 2010 release for 2012 Bible, 2011 release for 2013 Bible. The 2012 release coming out now won't likely be reviewed until the 2014 Whisky Bible.

@lmann86, I've only had 2009, 2010, 2011 releases. All three are off the charts good.

@Nock, it's my only experience with a Handy, so I can't compare it to other batches. And I'm not much of a rye drinker, so my opinion is not the most informed. But...

I found it incredibly layered with thick flavors, sweet and peppery. Kind of perfume-y, in a good way. Gave it a 93 rating in my cabinet. Very much worth a special occasion.

@WhiskyBee I need some more special occasions to open some bottles! I'm not picky about the occasion. A friend coming for dinner is good enough! Anyone want to come for dinner and taste the entire BTAC lineup? I think this would be a fast way to make friends...yes?

Just finished a 2010 that I absolutely loved . Also I was able to pick up a 2011 last week that I found in a local store .