Tastes

Batch 9, 131.9 proof. Good nose, with fresh wood, baking spice, butter, and salted caramel. Sinus clearing, in a good way. Lots of flavors on the palate, with spice, leather, cinnamon, oak, cherry, a hint of nutmeg, and a balancing sweetness. Very sharp in the back of the throat. Acidic spice lingers, with a flash of marshmallow. Prickly going down. One of the best batches, if not the best. 12/1/18

What a great nose, rich caramel. Bread, spice, oak, brown sugar, cinnamon and other baking spices. Incredible. On the palate, surprisingly smooth for Stagg. Nice heat, lingers. An unexpected perfumy note. Sweet. Leather. Pecan nibs. Maybe a citrus note at the end? Not as intense as the 2017 batch. 11/30/18

Muted nose at first. Sweet notes. Opens up with time, classic notes. On the palate, nice spice, some dough, a surprising young note. Some citrus. Wood at the end, some bitterness. Spice lingers. This is nice, if straightforward. 11/30/18

A117. Haven't had this batch in a while, and it holds up. On the nose, classic bourbon notes, with caramel, sandalwood, oak, brown sugar, and a bit of... soap? Surprisingly no sting on the nose given the proof. Smoothness carries over to the palate (relative to the proof, mind you). The spice and heat are still there, and a sharp acidic note. It's sweet, the floral note from the nose carries over as well. Some leather. Pecan nibs and barrel char at the end. The 2017 batches are very good, this may be my favorite of the three. 11/15/18

Barrel Select, barrel no. 6109, bottle no. 170, 51.2% abv, Total Wine & More, finish time 1 year 7 months in a rye barrel. Light nose, very sweet and a dill note. On the palate, balanced with sweet and spicy notes. Some cedar. Ends with cacao nibs. Very pleasant. 11/25/18

Smells very sweet, like maple syrup, with some sour rye notes as well. A bit of cardboard on the palate, which transitions to coffee that lingers. This could pass for a rum. 11/16/18

Barrel Select, Fishpaws market, 95 proof. Very floral on the nose, and sweet. Tastes like sweet and briny pickle juice. 11/16/18

Smoky. On the palate, plasticky. Sweet, smooth. Tastes young. 11/16/18

Spicy on the nose, with sandalwood. On the palate, perfumy, floral. Cacao nibs. Lingering finish. 11/16/18

Wood and earthy mushroom notes on the nose. Some cinnamon and caramel as well. On the palate, more wood, a bit astringent. Feels thin, but smooth. Finishes slightly bitter. Light. 11/16/18