Why is the 2023 Thomas H. Handy lower proof than usual?
At 124.9 proof (62.45% ABV), the 2023 Handy is the lowest-strength bottling of the expression since 2006, a result of how the chosen barrels matured rather than any added water; it is still uncut and unfiltered. Barrel proof varies year to year for a cask-strength whiskey. Buffalo Trace ages it more than six years.
What does the 2023 Thomas H. Handy taste like?
Buffalo Trace's notes open with orange zest, lemon oil, caramel, and a hint of pine. The palate leans on rye bread with orange marmalade and honey, finishing on light oak and black licorice. As a barrel-proof rye, impressions vary by palate.