New higher-proof rye aims squarely at bartenders, balance, and the legacy of America’s first cocktail
In the quiet, eternal chess match between flavor and firepower, Buffalo Trace Distillery has just made its next move. On July 1, they released Sazerac Rye Whiskey 100 Proof, a deliberate and well-considered elevation of the beloved 90-proof classic, built specifically for those who live behind the stick—and the spirited revivalists who order from the other side.
This isn’t a mere flex of proof points. It’s an answer to a very specific call—one made by bartenders, whispered in countless cocktail lounges and dive bars, where the rye backbone of the Manhattan or the Sazerac itself sometimes needs to stand up straighter in the glass.
“Bartenders have increasingly embraced 100 proof ryes for the balance, strength and versatility they provide,” said Andrew Duncan, Global Brand Director at Buffalo Trace. “Sazerac Rye 100 Proof offers greater control over flavor and balance, empowering creativity behind the bar.”
That bartender-first focus has always been in the DNA of Sazerac Rye, a whiskey that nods to the New Orleans apothecaries of the 1800s, when bitters and rye and sugar and absinthe were still novelties rather than gospel. This 100 proof version, according to Master Distiller Harlen Wheatley, was crafted with surgical precision to retain the core character—that nostalgic medley of pepper, candied citrus, and soft anise—while bolstering its structure and complexity.
And yes, it still finishes with a whisper of licorice. Just louder now.
With a suggested retail price of $29.99 for a 1-liter bottle, the new expression rolls out via Sazerac’s U.S. distributor networks in select markets. Bars and restaurants can also claim barrels of their own through the Sazerac Barrel Select (SBS) program—a sort of whiskey draft for the spirits-obsessed. The first 100 on-premise accounts to participate will receive a limited-edition commemorative barrelhead, fit for wall-mounting and cocktail nerd cred alike.
Whether it winds up in a highball or a high-concept stirred-down rye number, Sazerac Rye 100 Proof feels like a play for the future—rooted in tradition, turned up just enough to matter.
More details on the Sazerac Rye Whiskey 100 Proof at buffalotracedistillery.com.
