I Tasted Buffalo Trace’s New Full-Proof $40 Rye—and It Drinks Like a $400 Bottle
Even by its own lofty standards, 2025 was a banner year for Buffalo Trace. The Kentucky powerhouse behind such legendary labels as Weller, E.H. Taylor, and Pappy Van Winkle, expanded itself across the top shelf like never before.
This summer saw the release of the Distiller’s Council, a limited edition bottled-in-bond gem, priced at $1,500 retail. Not to be outdone, a pair of ultra-premium Weller wheated whiskeys came to market around the same time, including the second edition of Millennium, priced at $7,500. These were followed in autumn by the permanent addition of E.H. Taylor to the Buffalo Trace Antique Collection. The 15-year-old toffee bomb is already fetching four figures on the secondary market.
But when it comes to affordable extensions to the portfolio, Buffalo Trace certainly saved its best for last. Recently, the distillery wowed the whiskey world by introducing Sazerac Rye Full Proof. The 125-proof expression is a sturdier, more complex alternative to its already popular 100-proof whiskey. And, best of all, you shouldn't have to jump through hoops to get a bottle at or near its suggested retail price of $40. It's one of the better bargains in the whiskey category today.
Courtesy Buffalo Trace
Tasting Sazerac Rye Full Proof Whiskey
So, what makes it so special? It really all comes down to that aforementioned complexity. With the higher alcohol level comes more assertive aromas of marmalade and menthol. The minty note is joined on the palate by hints of black pepper-dusted creme brûlée.
Then comes the finish, which delivers lasting threads of nutmeg and caramel, effectively splitting the difference between savory and sweet. Sip it neat in a snifter at room temperature and this liquid will compare favorably against ultra-luxury ryes at 10 times the cost. Or add a couple of drops of water and watch those baking spice tonalities take centerstage.
Either way, this isn’t a whiskey that’s going to overwhelm you with heat. As opposed to “barrel proof” expressions—which exit the cask and enter bottle sans dilution—“full proof” whiskeys can be watered back down to the ABV at which they initially entered the wood; in this case, that was the legal maximum of 125 proof.
Why This Whiskey is Important
It’s always heartening to come across a bargain in American whiskey and for Buffalo Trace fans, good deals have been increasingly elusive over the past decade. Even as the market for bourbon and rye is purportedly in decline, this storied producer out of Frankfort, KY, continues to buck this downward trend. It has significantly expanded its operations and is increasing output.
This isn’t just good news for the company, but it’s good news for fans of whiskey that’s both fantastic and affordable. Buffalo Trace has spent the past several years stockpiling an impressive stock of aged whiskey, so we should soon see previously allocated expressions without the accompanying sticker shock. (Fingers crossed!) In the meantime, fans of quality rye have a new option that’s more than just full proof—it’s foolproof.