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Sazerac Rye Full Proof Joins the Permanent Lineup at 125 Proof
Buffalo Trace’s $1.2 billion expansion makes room for a bolder, permanent Sazerac Rye — floral spice at 125 proof for about forty bucks.
Rye drinkers who’ve been living on Sazerac’s 90- and 100-proof bottles get a third lane: Sazerac Rye Whiskey Full Proof, bottled at 125 and slotted as a permanent expression rather than a one-and-done experiment.
Buffalo Trace ties the release to its decade-long, $1.2 billion expansion — more still capacity, more room to bottle full-proof whiskey without starving the core lineup. Master Distiller Harlen Wheatley pointed to fan appetite for Weller and Benchmark full proofs as part of the push.
On paper the profile stays Kentucky rye: dill and spice up front, then floral vanilla and clove with a hint of orange, finishing peppery without tipping into punishment. Suggested retail is $39.99 for 750ml in select markets starting November 2025. The Distillery also ran a short vertical tasting (90, 100, Full Proof, and BTAC Sazerac 18) right after the announcement — the kind of flight that makes the “rye isn’t just for cocktails” argument in one sitting.
Source: Buffalo Trace Distillery / Jelisa Chatman, Sazerac.