George T. Stagg Bourbon (Fall 2018)

The aroma is full and rich with a pleasant, well-rounded scent. It has notes of wood and fleeting red fruit. A hint of damp wood is present, raising the question of why this isn't as good as Joseph Magnus with similar notes. Tangerine also briefly appears on the nose. The taste is surprisingly smooth given the proof, featuring bitterness and peppermint that balance spices while complementing subtle herbal notes and light citrus. It lacks the red fruit flavor. While it resembles E.H. Taylor Four Grain more than Elmer T. Lee, it shares Elmer's masterful execution, making it a joy to drink. It leans towards the potent and indulgent side, being cask strength, with prominent wood and smoke that, nonetheless, harmonize exceptionally well. This surpasses Stagg Jr. considerably. Adding water integrates the citrus with the wood, unveiling more cloves and tannins, alongside a touch of licorice. It never reaches Elmer T. Lee's complexity but is richer and seems more aged. A superb spirit suitable for any occasion, if only affordable. Almond nuttiness and vanilla contribute significantly to its delightful balance. Abundant vanilla, cinnamon, and clove flavors make it taste wonderful without being harsh. The wood presents a delightful, rich toffee character. If Elmer T. Lee is mature Evan Williams Black, this is mature and improved Jim Beam Black and Booker's Shiny Barrel. It possesses slightly more complexity than Booker's while retaining richness and showcasing the wood favorably. The overwhelming vanilla is a delight. There are no off-putting notes. The slight tannic quality, while potentially a concern for some, adds vibrancy to the wood. The absence of fruit or floral elements is not an issue. This bourbon offers a pure, woody essence that is remarkably easy to consume. It's indulgent and moderately complex, free of flaws. The cask strength enhances its complexity. Fleeting hints of fresh cherry emerge, likely due to the high proof, and become more apparent with a bit of water. The flavor is exceptionally full and rich, abundant with vanilla sweetness. This is an outstanding spirit, unfortunately quite expensive. The almond note helps explain the nutmeg perception. The tannic oak is definitely present. Cedar notes in the wood are subtle and not overpowering. Baking spices are evident, though candied ginger is harder to detect. Black pepper is noticeable, and while mint is present, spearmint seems like an inaccurate descriptor that combines other flavors poorly. The distillery captures much of the essence but misses key elements that make this exceptional. It's difficult to overstate this bourbon's quality. If it matched Elmer T. Lee's complexity, it would receive a perfect score. This is a truly remarkable spirit, possibly justifying its age. Its high price is regrettable.

Served neat and opened for over six months. A celebratory pour. The aroma is quite challenging to discern initially; perhaps it's just me. Notes of buttery, slightly toasted graham cracker crust with some custard. Black pepper with a little bite. Drizzled caramel. A subtle hint of raspberries. The mouthfeel is syrupy, with a noticeable grittiness. Initially, it presents as very dark, with brown sugar and maple, and a slight sourness from the raspberries. The taste delivers custard first, followed by the buttery graham cracker crust. The legs show caramel, a touch of oak, and black pepper. The oak presence lingers considerably. The aroma has truly blossomed after some time. It might have been my palate or the first drink of the day. Prominent fruit notes are now emerging. Cherries and blueberries. It's developing into a more complete profile of a fruit tart. Darker notes of coffee and leather are also present. It's a remarkably beautiful pour. Less intense than I recalled. It's simply very well-balanced. Sweet, but not excessively so. Not overly oaked. A slight bitterness and sourness are present but complementary. However, no single characteristic stands out to elevate it significantly. I found it enjoyable yet slightly underwhelming.

A bar patron was lucky enough to get this at a reasonable price per serving at a restaurant. Caramel, apple, cherry, similar to the aroma I detect in many of the Buffalo Trace products. What distinguishes this is the texture and flavor profile. Exceptional mouthfeel. So smooth, rich, and intricate. I have a bottle of Stagg Jr. batch 13 at home, and they are quite similar. Hot and smooth. Apple and cherry and caramel. Comparable to Weller and Eagle Rare, just amplified to the maximum. Worth $25 for a serving? Yes. Worth $600? No. I employ the rating system shown below. The distiller uses a scale of 5, and I use a scale of 10, but I'm sure you're not too intoxicated to figure it out! 1. Awful - So bad I discarded it. 2. Poor - I would not consume it willingly. 3. Bad - Contains numerous flaws. 4. Subpar - Not terrible, but many other options I'd prefer. 5. Acceptable - Merely average. 6. Above Average - Better than typical. 7. Excellent - Significantly better than average. 8. Outstanding - In a class of its own. 9. Exceptional - An all-time favorite. 10. Flawless

First encounter with this bottle Nose - vanilla overload! Very intricate nose with much complexity. Nutmeg and spices complete an excellent nose with some cherries and sugar. For a 124 proof bourbon, I barely detected any ethanol burn. Taste - Very full and rich on the tongue. Vanilla is prominent, accompanied by other spices. Astonishingly smooth. Vanilla continues on the palate, leading to a cherry flavor and a light pepper taste. Vanilla remains on the tongue with a slight burn on a long finish. This is how bourbon ought to taste. Overall and value - I am very pleased this bottle met the expectations. Vanilla enthusiasts should seek out this 2018 release. It is regrettable that a bottle this exceptional is so difficult to locate or so pricey. This bottle is easily among my top 3.

I've been searching for this for ages and finally sampled it at a bar. While it's very good, I must admit I'm disappointed considering the cost. It took a considerable time to open up, and even then, I found the aroma to be quite subdued. The first surprise was that the 130 proof is not at all apparent. It has vanilla and caramel with some minor fruit notes, but everything is very reserved. The taste is authentic and very satisfying. The finish is pleasant and long with lingering apple. If this were priced at $75 a bottle, it would definitely be a 5, but I find Stagg Jr. at $65 to be superior in every aspect.

Char, charcoal, nose with a lot of spice, rye, marshmallow, candy corn, hints of maraschino cherry and almonds. Flavorful spicy rye that strongly contends with the corn. Intense spicy pepper/cinnamon/alcohol heat. Very oaky, musty damp barrel wood. Tobacco and leather notes. Extended finish with damp wood, tobacco, wet cotton, cinnamon heat, marzipan. Intricate and well-rounded, but certainly fiery!