Stagg Jr. Classification: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Proof: 126.4 (63.2%) Age: NAS (BT has said about 8 years) Mashbill: Undisclosed Distillery: Buffalo Trace Distillery, Frankfort, KY Price: $50 - $60 Color: Dark Amber/Medium Copper Nose: Alcohol, caramel, chocolate, hint of raisins Palate: Very hot, sweet, mild spice, light vanilla, dark chocolate bitterness, oak, small hints of dark grapes Finish: Long and lingering, lots of persistent heat in mouth all the way through the chest, bitter oak, apple, char, smoke, medicinal notes similar to the aftertaste if cough syrup Personal Rating: 6.5/10 Notes: I REALLY wanted to love this pour. While it isn’t especially rare from my understanding, it usually sells pretty quickly. There are some qualities in this bourbon that I do really enjoy. The fruitiness is prevalent as much as it can be which makes for a crisp sip for such an oily whiskey. I also enjoyed the char and smoke notes in the finish, definitely leads to a “masculine” flavor profile. However, it can be difficult to pick out the delicate fruit notes because of the extreme heat. There isn’t any spiciness I can pick up, but the alcohol is very hot and overpowers pretty much everything else. That being said, I don’t usually mind heat, what brought this down below the 7/10 for me is a strange medicinal bitterness in the finish. It isn’t like dark chocolate or oak, but reminds me of the aftertaste you get when taking cough syrup. This is one that I don’t really recommend drinking neat, definitely throw some cubes in the glass to tame the heat and then you may find some enjoyment in the pour. I don’t hate it by any means, but will is definitely one of those “put some hair on you chest” type deals