Stagg Jr Barrel Proof Bourbon Batch 9

Stagg Jr. Barrel Proof Bourbon Batch 9. Sample received in a trade. Proof: 131.9. Prepared in a Glencairn glass, rested for 15 minutes. Color: Medium amber. Aroma: Cherry pie with vanilla ice cream. Palate: Honey, baking spice, toffee. Finish: Warm and very extended. With a splash of water: Baking spice yields to cherries. Overall score: 9/10. The proof is a bit high for everyday drinking, but it would likely be excellent with an ice cube. Delicious!

Smell: caramel, cherry, vanilla, sugar-coated cereal. Wood notes. Body: substantial, coating the mouth. Taste: caramel and cinnamon. Finish: enduring and a fantastic Kentucky hug. Note: a sampling from a friend. This is damn tasty. What truly makes this stand out is its fullness and flavor. It’s not a complicated bourbon, but it excels at what it does. This is excellent.

Typical Buffalo Trace aroma: abundant cherry with some brown sugar. Doesn't seem like 131 proof at all, very mellow. Sweet vanilla on the tongue and a faint tobacco aftertaste. Medium, oily finish that remains on your palate for just the right duration.

It has a strong alcohol presence and burn. After adding water, notes of cherry and maple emerge, along with flavors of maple syrup and pancakes. I didn't care for the initial pour from the neck, but after revisiting it several months later, it had transformed into one of the finest bourbons I've tasted. 131.9 Proof.

Aroma of cherry, oak, and tobacco is great. The cherry flavor is noticeable. At 131.9 proof, the neat burn is too intense for me. Adding one ice cube softens it. It has a bit of spice and is smooth to drink, but leaves a slightly bitter aftertaste on the back of the tongue.

A strong Coca-Cola finish. Excellent, as I enjoy barrel strength. Likely Batch 9 (Fall 2017), which was highly rated.