Buffalo Trace is giving one of its most recognizable rye whiskeys a powerful new identity. The Kentucky distillery has unveiled Sazerac Rye Whiskey Full Proof. This 125-proof bottling joins the permanent lineup this fall, offering a bolder interpretation of the label long associated with the signature cocktail of New Orleans.

For decades, Sazerac Rye has been a fixture behind bars and on collector shelves, known for its peppery edge and dry, floral complexity. The new Full Proof release retains that core flavor profile but raises the intensity by delivering a richer, weightier version meant for slow sipping rather than mixing.

The timing is deliberate. Buffalo Trace recently completed a 10-year, $1.2 billion expansion, adding new stills, fermenters, and warehouses across its Frankfort campus. That growth has already allowed for the expansion of high-proof bottlings across the distillery’s brands, including W.L. Weller and Benchmark.

“Compared to our core products like Buffalo Trace and Eagle Rare, which lean toward apple and cherry notes, our ryes have citrus and spice, which really shows in Full Proof,” Buffalo Trace Distillery’s master distiller Harlen Wheatley tells Food & Wine. “With each sip, you will see the balance between the sweetness and spice. The Full Proof allows us to preserve the whiskey’s full character.”

In the glass, the Full Proof version leans into those spice-forward characteristics. Expect a nose of toasted oak, rye grain, and subtle dill, leading to a palate that balances sweetness with structure — caramel and orange peel up front, followed by herbal spice and lingering warmth.

“The flavor stays true to its predecessors, but because it’s full proof, it delivers the intensity that we expect,” says Wheatley. “The mouthfeel is rich and full, yet soft and approachable. Expect a punch up front from the spice and added layers from the concentrated flavors.”

While Sazerac Rye Full Proof’s age isn’t disclosed, the barrel maturation and blending process is approached with appropriate care. “Sazerac Rye Full Proof is aged in the same warehouses as the other expressions in the Sazerac Rye family,” says Wheatley. “But the key difference is we hand-select barrels from the best locations that give the big, bold flavor high-proof fans love.”

Wheatley notes that the release builds on fan demand for bolder proof points: “It’s rewarding to see how our expansion is already allowing us to create of these whiskeys while maintaining the quality our fans expect,” he says.

To celebrate, the distillery will host a Sazerac Rye tasting experience from November 14 to 16, featuring the brand’s full range: the 90-proof, 100-proof, and new Full Proof expressions, along with the prized 18-year-old from the Buffalo Trace Antique Collection.

Sazerac Rye Whiskey Full Proof will begin rolling out nationwide in November 2025, available through select retailers, bars, and restaurants for $40 per 750-milliliter bottle.