Stagg Jr Barrel Proof Bourbon Batch 12

Apparently this is Batch 12. As far as I can tell, Buffalo Trace did nothing to indicate the Batch No. Luckily, distiller lists the ABV, so I was able to match them up myself. This is the little brother of the highly-touted George T. Stagg. Should be interesting. Nose: Classic BT. Caramel, cola, cherry, Gala apple, leather, toffee, and vanilla. Some peach and honey sweetness as well. Even some carrot cake as well, which, though I've been finding this a bit more often, is still a rare note. Just a touch of brown sugar. I said cola earlier. I'm going to specify that as root beer here. There's some steak sauce and wood char. Extremely heavy on the oak. There is plenty of allspice, clove, and nutmeg behind the sweetness, but not a hint of ABV--impressive since this clocks in at 66.15%. Strong start. Palate: Loads of caramel. By far the prevailing note. Also quite a bit of brown sugar. Milk chocolate as well, which is unique for a bourbon. There's some cocoa and leather. Plenty of oak. As brown a bourbon as I've ever had, if that makes any sense. Beyond that, there's some more Gala apple, carrot cake, vanilla. A touch of cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, and clove on the back end. Doesn't add much to what I got from the nose, but the quality is consistent. Finish: Until this point, this was very good, but not quite great. Chocolate, graham cracker, caramel, and vanilla. Tons of oak. Drying black tea note. Cinnamon, allspice, clove, nutmeg. Blistering heat on the first sip. As time passes, it becomes tempered, and very refined. Interestingly, the chocolate is initially a mint chocolate; yet, it transforms to milk chocolate when given time to breathe. It's among the longest finishes I've had. It's rare that a finish could add so much to whiskey, but in the case of high ABV whiskies like this, it is always worth factoring into the score. Phenomenal. When I purchased this, it boasted the highest ABV of any whiskey I'd ever had. Since then, it's dropped to number 2. At any rate, that's a lofty accomplishment. What impresses me about this one is that it retains the core attributes of the Buffalo Trace profile while living up to its status as an overpowering behemoth. I choose the Col. Taylor SB over this. The Weller 12 as well. Two of the finest whiskies I've ever had. This one is on par with Elmer T. Lee--for completely different reasons. The latter is a refined and eloquent expression of the BT profile. This one is a bold, brash, and bombastic embodiment of Buffalo Trace's potential. I've enjoyed this one very much. It's a monster of a whiskey, but offers enough complexity where the ridiculous ABV cannot detract from the quality. BT does a poor job of distinguishing these expressions with their labeling. But they do a stellar job with everything else. Compare the ABV with the information online. If you can match it up, I highly recommend this beast. Superb stuff.

This is the celebrated Batch 12. Its aroma is robust and incredibly intricate, featuring molasses, maple, brown sugar, black cherry, plum, barrel char, chocolate, cinnamon, leather, pipe tobacco, and dark oak, almost mahogany. Indeed, all these elements are truly present and in balanced proportions. The taste mirrors the nose exactly; all the components mentioned above are found on the palate. This bourbon embodies everything "dark": dark fruits, dark sugars, and dark wood. The tastes are deep and merge flawlessly. A small amount of water to reduce the proof makes this one truly shine. The finish lasts an exceptionally long time, the longest I've experienced by a significant margin. To reiterate, everything from the aroma and taste is present in the finish before it eventually fades, leaving a sensation of menthol and chili pepper. The texture is dense and rich. The warmth is substantial, even after adding water. Overall, it's an extraordinary bourbon. Considering its cost, if anything surpasses it for the price, I would be eager to sample it. I will always aim to keep this stocked. If you come across it and haven't tried it, purchase it. That's final.

I've had this bottle for ages, but tonight's the time. Batch 12, from 2019, with 66.15% alcohol. Drank it straight. It looks dark brown and coppery in the glass, leaving thick trails. The aroma has notes of sweet corn and grains, brown sugar, vanilla, and charred wood. The taste mirrors the smell: sugary sweet, with vanilla from the oak, some leather, a drying tannic quality, and a spicy rye finish. There's a hint of burnt wood and alcohol, but it's not overpowering considering the strength. The texture is thick and oily. What I really enjoy is the finish that tingles, almost numbs, your lips. It has dry mint and nettles, followed by a smoky, sweet grain taste that lingers for a very long time. Adding an ice cube dials back the alcohol and tannins somewhat, but the lip-tingling sensation remains. Wow! It becomes smoother and more savory as the ice melts and cools it down. I appreciate how it evolves over time. It's a robust and powerful pour, packed with taste, much like other Stagg Jrs. It's ideal for a chilly autumn night; I can practically sense the snow. A website gave this their top bourbon rating for 2019. That's very high praise indeed. I won't disagree with that assessment – it feels earned.

Down to my last few servings of this one... wow, it's been quite the journey. It was one of the first bottles I rushed to buy as soon as it was released, and that was roughly 2 years back. Just tiny servings now and then, savoring every delicious drop. Key notes for me are intense nuttiness, corn amplified by steroids, and charred wood. This is, was, and always shall be a bourbon that performs at such an elite level, it's practically a guaranteed pick for the major leagues alongside the BTAC collection. It's called junior for a good reason, as the top-tier titan is unbeatable (certainly among the best bourbons ever created, second only to a specific wheated bourbon in my view), but this one vastly outperforms its suggested retail price. I spent $45, which stands as my best bourbon purchase ever. I would happily pay exorbitant sums for this bottle because their approach to aging, proof, and flavor meets every expectation and will always be justified.

Aroma: Cherry cola and chocolate-covered almonds. Vanilla extract shines through, reminiscent of cream being stirred into sugar, creating caramel. Taste: A delicate chocolate coats strong maraschino cherries, all enrobed in a sweet, creamy, buttery coating. Oak spice provides warmth through a rich, viscous mouthfeel. Finish: Lingering oak spice unveils a dry cherry pipe tobacco note. Subtle clove is present. While I may not have sampled as many spirits as others, this particular Stagg is truly exceptional. With half the bottle remaining, I lament its eventual depletion. (TIP): Properly prepare your palate, then add two drops of water. Allowing it time to breathe unlocked a profound buttery mouthfeel with no harshness. Absolutely remarkable.

Nose: Toasted almonds, fruit drink, cherries, vanilla cream, alcohol sting, stewed fruits, powdered sugar. Taste: Early ripe berries (red raspberries, sweet cherries) followed by drying wood, pepper, nuttiness, exotic fruits. End: Lingering, drying conclusion with hints of aged wood, tropical fruits, and faint hide. Amazing. This expression not only meets expectations, it surpasses them. If served this unseen and told it was a high-end bourbon costing over $400, I'd accept it without question. The aroma is incredible, rich with ripe fruit and sweet confectionary scents. The taste is much smoother than its alcohol content suggests and is just as delightful as the smell. The conclusion is, as anticipated, lengthy and packed with island fruits, wood tannins, and leather. Quite a serving.