Review #375 - Sazerac Single Barrel Rye - Wiseguy Lounge Pick 'Bugsy Siegel'

Wiseguy Lounge Barrel Pick Series: Part 7 of 20

While Buffalo Trace is possibly more known for their bourbons, they also have a number of rye whiskies which have garnered plenty of acclaim. Their standard, widely-available rye is 'Sazerac,' and it's generally reasonably priced; it's also much easier to find than a lot of other Buffalo Trace products. Because of this, it's also more common to find single barrel variants.

This pick by the Wiseguy Lounge is named 'Bugsy Siegel,' after the American bootlegger-turned-mobster. He was a prominent gangster in California before turning his attention to gambling, a venture that led to his involvement in the development of the original Las Vegas strip.

This rye is bottled at the brand's standard 45% ABV (90 proof), and it's not age stated - the general consensus is that these barrels are aged for 4 to 6 years.

Sazerac Single Barrel Rye - Wiseguy Lounge Pick 'Bugsy Siegel'

USA - Rye

Price: USD 55 (2024)

Age Statement: NAS

Strength: 45% ABV

Tasting Methodology: Reviewed 1 time; bottle at 70% fill level at time of review. Tasted in a nosing glass, rested 10-15 minutes

Nose: Relatively sweet, with hints of red fruit and a little bit of brown sugar. There's a soft musty note and a bit of perfume, as well as some floral scents; nicely rounded, and with time, a bit of wood smoke appears.

Palate: The mouthfeel is medium-thin; this is quite mellow, leaning a little sweet at first, with some floral and herbal flavors. Oak arrives on a second taste, reserved and subtle, but it adds hints of leather and charcoal; later, there we found freshly laundered linens and some sharper pepper.

Finish: Warming, with cinnamon and oak; still, it's a mellow rye. Orange peel, wood smoke, and orange blossom combine for a pleasant finish, which has a medium length.

Final Note: A nice, if slightly basic, rye - starts out a bit sweet, but becomes more dry with time. It's a relatively subtle and mellow whisky, without too many of those classic rye spice notes, but we enjoyed the soft oak and floral notes.

Value is just above average - this is definitely more expensive than the standard Sazerac rye, but it does offer a more unique take on their profile.

Our Average Rating: 6.5 / 10

In the current whisky landscape of increasing prices and variable quality, we've added a value rating to our reviews that relates to the score and the available pricing of each whisky. This roughly equates to a 0-10 scale; no reviews so far have exceeded a score of 10, although it is technically possible for the formula to produce a value rating higher than 10 with a high enough score and low enough price.

Value Rating: 6.84

About Us: We're a husband and wife review team living in the Midwest United States. Generally, our reviews and tasting notes will be a compilation of both of our experiences with a whisky over several tasting sessions.