My first time with Stagg Jr as allocations have arrived in stores now and I was lucky to snag a bottle. My bottle is 63.2% ABV. Enjoyed neat in a Glencairn, no water added. Nose is straightforward, but offers very rich tones of brown sugar, maple, and vanilla, with an undercurrent of old cedar wood and spice. Given the high proof, I expected high alcohol and burn on the nose, but it’s honestly only faintly noticeable. At times I seem to detect a savory note, almost like a tangy bbq or A1 sauce, but it comes and goes. The palate is just really good here, with an oily type mouthfeel that is delicious. Sweet flavors of toasted sugar, vanilla, cherry hit hard first then opens up citrus and leathery toasted barrel. A very rich and rewarding sip. Blistering spice and heat bite you hard, asserting dominance and presence. For such a high proof, the level of alcohol flavor is much less than anticipated, a nicely balanced rich palate. The flavors here, while not crazy complex, are all so balanced and delicious, but watch that spice and heat, it'll let you know this isn't for the weak! Late in the palate I get that savory bbq note again. Finish is nice and long, with maple, vanilla sugar, barrel wood all balancing in harmony. And speaking of that savory note, I get it in spades when sniffing the empty glass. Smells just like an A1 or bbq sauce, so maybe I wasn’t imagining it in the nose and slightly on the palate. Overall, outstanding as usual from Buffalo Trace!! Although I will admit at $60 a pop, it is overpriced. Whether Buffalo Trace’s limited yearly releases and scarcity of stock is real or manufactured publicity I’m not certain, but it has driven their prices and demand higher than it should be. Don’t misunderstand, my first time trying Stagg Jr is great and it’s a fantastic savory balanced pour, but not really worth more than $45 to $50 if you ask me. That’s mainly because I find my bottle of 14 year Knob Creek SiB to be even stronger, spicier, and more rich than Stagg, all while being only $39 a bottle and regularly available anytime of year. So I’m paying BTrace another $20 just because it’s “special and limited” when the reality is there are cheaper, just as tasty, and more readily available options. Although to be fair, other barrel proof bourbons regularly hit $50 to $60 or more so maybe it’s not vastly different, and I’m just getting a good deal on the KC making it a slightly unfair comparison. But whatever. Maybe when I finish the bottle I’ll feel differently and declare Stagg is worth it, but as of now, it may be my one and only bottle, and stop the insane hunt and chase just to get it. I love BTrace, easily one of my favorite bourbon distillers next to Wild Turkey, but let’s not get out of hand with supply and demand, or insanely effective marketing, whichever is the case. Cheers!