Review #: 298
Description: Stagg Jr. Batch #14
Spirit: Bourbon
Background: A personal favorite, Stagg Jr. is released by Buffalo Trace generally twice per year. Coming from the same mashbill as its father, it carries no age statement but is barrel proof and the gap between the two seems to be closing. At MSRP of $50, it’s one of the best value bourbons out there, but is getting harder and harder to find it for that price. Let’s see how this batch fairs when it comes in at 130.2 proof.
Distillery – Buffalo Trace
Bottler – Buffalo Trace
Brand – Stagg Jr.
Selection – N/A
ABV – 65.1%
Age – NAS
Nose – Punchy sweetness, the classic cherry is front and center. A decent bit of roasted corn and ethanol definitely makes itself apparent. A little bit lactic on the back end.
Taste – Thick and heavy mouthfeel. Cherry frosting on a yellow cake, milk caramel, brown sugar
Finish – Oak, stewed cherries, little bit of licorice and rootbeer in there as well. More black tea comes in the longer the finish goes.
Score: 6
Would I buy a bottle? At MSRP, yes
Thoughts: I at first thought maybe this was a little disjointed, but as I sipped, it started to pull itself together and show cohesion. The biggest hit to it is that it definitely tastes every bit of 65%. I liked batch 13 a little better, but this is only a minor setback and still a great bourbon, if you can find it.