Stagg Jr. Single Barrel (Binny's)

This wasn't a chosen selection. I won't name the selector since these rare finds appear infrequently and what I tasted was from a charitable endeavor. It's unclear how many selections have left the warehouse and gone through bottling, but here are my general impressions: Fans of Stagg Jr. will likely appreciate a single barrel selection of it. You might find this slightly superior, but only by a small margin. However, it's rare to find standard Stagg Jr. nowadays. If you have the chance to buy a bottle, do so and enjoy it. A few cautionary notes, though. This could literally burn your tongue. The flavors are impressive – oak, tobacco, vanilla, cherry, and so on – but they aren't worth sacrificing your sense of taste by swishing it in your mouth. A friend generously offered a taste from his bottle, which registered around 135 proof, compared to my batch 14 at 130 proof. It's undeniably hot. If physical discomfort isn't your preference, perhaps skip it or consider adding a few drops of water or an ice cube. I doubt this would dilute the flavors significantly. What did this pour leave me with? Primarily indigestion. Flavor-wise, it's your standard mash bill #1, with a prominent tobacco note and an earthy character, yet still rich with vanilla, cinnamon, and cherry. This particular selection might have a bit more vanilla and less oak, but it doesn't change the overall experience. It's certainly no closer to GTS than any other Jr. batch I've encountered. It lacks the distinct leather, barnyard, or mineral notes that suggest 15+ years in a barrel. Honestly, it's fantastic. It ranked in the top 2 of the evening's selections, out of 6-10 bottles. Standard Stagg Jr. was likely my #3, followed by a Woodford Reserve Batch Proof (which had muted cherry and wood notes with a touch more new leather). The latter, at about $120, is pricey, but so is $90 for Booker's these days – a completely different profile, but still exceptionally good. This bottle could easily fetch $150, and it's likely close to what my friend paid – roughly $70 went to charity, with the rest covering the bottle's acquisition. Yes, Stagg Jr. should be priced closer to $80-125 in today's market, but Buffalo Trace wouldn't do that as it would disrupt their strategy of acquiring low and then promoting heavily online. However, unless you're donating to a charity, avoid overpaying for one of these. Seriously, don't. It only contributes to the inflated hype surrounding a solid product. If you're set on finding a Stagg Jr. and one of these appears on the secondary market (I feel a bit guilty even suggesting this) alongside a standard bottle, opt for the standard bottle if it's $125 or less. If someone is trying to resell these for over $200 and other, less expensive standard bottles are available, they should be ashamed – especially if funds that could benefit charity are being redirected for personal profit. While these are enjoyable, they remain well within the capabilities of the standard Stagg Jr. and are not worth being swindled over.

This bottling is fantastic, I've tasted it blind numerous times and it always stands out.

136.4 proof from Binny's - substantial mouthfeel. Notes of smoke, oak, and cherry.

134 proof from Binnys. Well balanced. Not as unique.