Stagg Jr Barrel Proof Bourbon Batch 15

Prepare for some heat and a tasty pallet because Stagg jr. brings it. When had neat, you will feel the heat but as it subsides, you will be left with a very tasty notes of caramel, toffee, vanilla, and some oak/char. Over ice or cut with some water brings the heat down and opens the other notes up nicely. Solid bourbon to have if you can get your hands on it.

Hot N’ Tasty

Unripe peaches on the nose initially but opens up to a hint of vanilla and baked goods. Standard spicy palate that I have come to expect from Stagg Jr. Silky mouthfeel is quickly met with heat. Lots of heat and char and spice that sticks with you on the finish.

Nose: Vanilla, citrus, and buttercream frosting. Palate. Starts with a sweetness of Carmel and vanilla that splashes into little bits of spicy cinnamon with a real maple syrup mouthfeel. Finish. It has a very spicy finish that is almost like a warm fire that rolls off the tongue into your chest. With water the nose is more pronounced, and the palate becomes heavy charred oak- like a higher rye spice Woodford double oak.

This is my guilty, embarrassing purchase. They're not worth the trouble to get them...but I really do enjoy these. Nose - chocolate cherries, alcohol, oak, and a touch of barn funk. It's pretty straight forward, a mix of buffalo trace, touch of youth, lotta alcohol, and the real unique note is that touch of funk/oak. With water a bit of caramel comes out (shocking?). Taste - Hot for sure, these are all hot but this one is a bit hotter than usual. A lot of chocolate, touch of oak, really rich heavy vanilla cream, some cream corn/grain, and some varnish. Water doesn't change much here, even a health dose doesn't kill the alcohol. I like this bourbon. It's very nice and pretty enjoyable. Not too complex and I think that's where this one falls flat. Great upfront flavor and a nice oaky note I don't get on other Stagg Jrs. But the finish is perhaps a drop of spice and it lingers but it's simple and pretty basic. It's more the result of the high proof than there being a rich complex whisky here. Anyway 2.25, I'm gonna keep over paying (not through dollars but favors or store points/rewards programs) for these but if you can't get one...you'll live. There's better stuff on the shelf. Edit - well I scored the last two batches 2.75 so let me move this to a 2.5. I think I was just too nice but whatever. This is pretty good so a 2.5 is perfectly fine. I think this is very close to the last two releases so they really should all be the same score and the 12 was likely more than a quarter star better.

Smells of sweet baked goods with a vanilla frosting. Coats the tongue nicely and evenly. Tastes sweet, just like it smells and it goes down with very little burn. The taste lingers for a good while! This is a great high proof sipper. I have had batch 13 and batch 14 to compare and this one is sweeter and smoother. I would say well worth the $50.

Nose is pretty alcohol forward, but the booze doesn’t overpower the cherry and roasted apple notes. Those apple notes persist into the palate, bolstered by rich oaky-ness. Nice, long spicy finish.