Stagg Barrel Proof Bourbon Batch 18

Tasted in a blind. On the hot side but with a nice spicy dry finish. Came in fourth behind Elijah Craig Barrel Proof A123, Wild Turkey Rare Breed, and Doc Swinson’s Blenders Cut.

Very spicy. Dark fruits, grape, applie pie, and a long and hot finish

I've been wanting to try a Stagg Jr. for a while now. Although batch 18 has dropped the Jr. designation, I rushed at the chance to pick up this bottle for a decent price once I learned that the Stagg Jr. product has been discontinued. I had to snatch up what could be my last chance to own a bottle of Stagg (Jr.?). Man, this stuff is 131 proof? I basically went into this review expecting damn near rubbing alcohol levels of heat. The nose is surprisingly gentle and well rounded for this fire breathing proof. Sweet, dark cherries swim in a sea of caramel and dark cocoa powder. Yes, upon a deeper sniff, you will catch the ethanol heat from the proof but you also grab a hint of spicy sweet cinnamon. Wow! What an incredible hit of cinnamon on the palate. Yet somehow... not unpleasant. Its sweet and spicy like red hots candy. That cherry from the nose peeks its head out as the spice rounds off. But that spice is definitely there throughout both the taste and finish. Rolling into the finish, tannic oak takes over the show. There still remains a faint hint of cherries but really, the finish is dominated by cinnamon and spice. Are all Stagg Jr bottlings this hot? What is your favorite? Not sure if starting off with the 18th bottling is giving this bourbon a fair shake but I will say that this is incredibly drinkable for 131 proof bourbon. Pretty much the opposite of Booker's which in my opinion is just way too ethanol hot to be likeable.

This is a hot batch. Dark fruits, oak and heat. Long finish.

Nose: cherry, molases, and dark chocolate. Palate: very hot and rich. Spicy with notes of dark chocolate, charred caramel, oak, and bitter cherry. Verrryyyy long finish. Very mouth numbing, in a great way.