Sentimental Favorite Whiskies

We all have sentimental favorite whiskies. Those “must have” bottles we cannot live without. The ones with back-ups (and even back-ups of back-ups). Some may even be secret indulgences. You know the ones, whiskies only you can love.

SENTIMENTAL FAVORITE WHISKIES

So, what makes a favorite? Maybe it’s a first bourbon, or bottles which tug at past experiences and fond memories. Or the first whiskey with which you connected – its aromas and flavors leapt from the glass – begging you to smell and savor each one. And then there’s the bottle for an evening’s nightcap – after trying something new.

HUMBLE BEGINNINGS

Years ago, I subcontracted for a software company and was asked to talk at a business event in Louisville, Kentucky. At the close of each day’s events, our hosts had scheduled meet and greet networking sessions.

To highlight Kentucky’s greatest export, the event promoters arranged a pseudo bourbon “tour” in a hotel breakout room. There, samplings from Brown-Forman, Buffalo Trace, Four Roses, Jim Beam, and Maker’s Mark were poured by distillery emissaries. I knew little about bourbon, but to be sure, I partook and my fascination began.

Today, after all these years and many purchases and pours, I’ve come up with ten bottles which are always open in my bunker. Certainly there are others, but these are in some sort of irregular rotation. I’ll share them with you below.

FIRST WHISKIES

In those early days of this great adventure, Four Roses and Maker’s Mark made quite an impression. Caramelly brown sugar and nice bourbon spice – What more needs to be said. There is always an open bottle of Four Roses Small Batch in my bunker. This bourbon is readily available in here in Idaho where I live, so as each $35 bottle nears empty, it’s easy to grab another.

Sentimental Favorite Whiskies

Over the years, my palate has matured and I’ve moved on from basic Maker’s. My bunker now houses a recent Maker’s Mark Cask Strength release at $60. In addition, I also have several wonderful bottles of Idaho State Liquor Division (ISLD) picks (think Store Pick Whiskey) produced by Maker’s Mark. They are next level takes on the popular Maker’s 46 Stave Selection process.

VALUE WHISKIES

As with most of us in the early days of our bourbon educations, I stayed under the $40 mark. An early standout for me was Eagle Rare. And even today, I believe it is near impossible to find a better value for the money. At about $35 (in Idaho), Eagle Rare offers great aroma and flavor, and it’s a 10 year old bourbon. There’s always an open bottle on the shelf and as it is now becoming a bit challenging to find, I’m always on the lookout for a back up (or two).

Sentimental Favorite Whiskies

Another bargain bourbon I enjoy is Evan Williams Bottled-in-Bond. While I’m certain it has its detractors and will never win any awards, I think it’s a nice pour. And for me it’s just good enough for an evening’s last dram when I want just a wee bit more. Best of all it’s often on sale for $15.95 (or less). Being a Bottled-in-Bond 100 proof bourbon it’s a no-brainer for it to be a staple on my shelf.

HIGH PROOF WHISKIES
Sentimental Favorite Whiskies

As I’ve previously blogged, Adam, my local Liquor Store Manager coached me along this whiskey trek. He turned me on to my first high proof bourbon, Old Forester 1920. My palate was maturing and he had been suggesting I might be ready for some heat. At $60 and 115 Proof, 1920 was both the most expensive and the highest proof whiskey I’d had to that point. But oh-my what a bourbon. Aroma and flavor and finish. I always have a bottle on my shelf.

With the additional proof, I’d found my mother lode: big, bold, high proof bourbons which are earthy, sweet and full of oak – and I wanted more. Five of my top six all time bourbons fall in this group. There is no single bourbon here, these are batched offerings – Stagg Jr ($50), Elijah Craig Barrel Proof ($60) and Booker’s ($85).

Each year, Buffalo Trace releases two batches of Stagg Jr. (Spring and Fall), Heaven Hill three batches of Elijah Craig Barrel Proof (January, May and September), and Jim Beam, 3-4 batches of Booker’s (about every 3-4 months). All releases are different, and all above 125 proof (some even exceed 130 proof). Mmmm … bold, high proof, earthy, sweet and full of oak … my favorite. There’s always an open expression from each distillery on my ready to go shelf.

RARE WHISKEY
Sentimental Favorite Whiskies

Early on Adam also told me about the ISLD Lottery which is open to the Idaho public. At regular intervals, the state offers the opportunity for its patrons to purchase rare and hard to find whiskeys at MSRP. One of my early lottery entries yielded a bottle of Weller Antique 107. While there may be better bourbons, an open bottle of Weller Antique graces the shelve allowing me to revel in my first lottery win. At about $50, this bourbon is increasingly difficult to secure, so I seldom pass when I get the chance to buy.

SECRET INDULGENT WHISKEY

And my secret indulgence? A bourbon from DryFly Distilling out of Spokane, WA. I am a fly fisherman, so I feel OBLIGATED to try their offerings. I began with DryFly Straight Wheat, then the DryFly Straight Triticale, and a DryFly Wheat finished in Huckleberry Port barrels. My favorite is DryFly Bourbon 101. At about $40 (often less on sale), I always have a bottle on hand.

YOUR TURN

So, there’s my list, in all its ragged glory. I know some of you will like a few of the ones I’ve listed and others will question my palate – and I’m good with that. It’s MY list!

So now it’s your turn. What are your sentimental favorite whiskies?

Click the ..LEAVE A REPLY.. button in the field below to enter your favorite “must haves”.

Sentimental Favorite Whiskies written by Brian Dawson

Whiskey for the Ages editor

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Stagg Jr. Batch #14 Bourbon Review

Hannah’s Stagg Jr Batch #14 Bourbon Review

Original review written on February 10, 2021

GENERAL DESCRIPTION:

Stagg Jr Batch #14 Bourbon Review: If you like heat and proof, this bourbon will definitely provide. It has strong, seasoned, sweet flavors and some spicy fruits to enjoy, but be sure to sip with caution. This one is mischievous and is looking to burn. 92/100

VITALS:
Stagg Jr. Batch #14 Bourbon Review

– Made In: Kentucky, USA
– Distillery: Buffalo Trace Distillery
– Classification: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey; Small Batch
– Age: nas (believed to be approximately 8 yrs.)
– Mash Bill: Buffalo Trace Mash Bill #1 (low rye; <10% rye)
– Casks: Char #4
– Non-Chill Filtered
– Barrel Entry Proof: 125
– ABV: 65.1% (130.2 proof) – ABV’s are Batch signifiers for Stagg Jr.
– Price:$49.95 USD in Idaho

For more information, visit buffalotracedistillery.com

ENJOYMENT METHOD:

I enjoyed the juice neat from a Glencairn with father and fellow Whiskey for the Ages reviewer, Brian.

Check out his review of this bourbon here!

SETTING:

Enjoy this one poolside at night with the stars bright and the water comfortably cool. Batch #14 is the perfect company whether you are on your own or with a group of people, looking up at the stars and hearing soothing music. You simply feel at home, no matter where you are.

Photo by Ihor Saveliev on Unsplash

NOSE:

This smells heavy of brown sugar and crystalized caramel on the first inhale with plenty of warmth accompanying. The alcohol burn isn’t intense at all, despite being so high in proof. When I do take deep draws, the alcohol seems reminiscent of nail polish remover, but again, this is quite faint.

I also find a lot of sweet, aged oak here in the nose that comes with a slight haze of barrel char. I wouldn’t say this is particularly fruity or spicy either, though there are still traces of maybe some allspice and apples (though I could be looking for a fruit to pair nicely with the aforementioned caramel). Other fruits could potentially include fruit leather or raisin that has an earthy essence or cinnamon sprinkling over top. Overall, this is very warm and inviting, and I am excited to give it a try.

PALATE:
Stagg Jr. Batch #14 Bourbon Review

– Mouth Feel: It has a bit of a gritty texture to it, as though I can feel it catch on each of my taste buds.
– Balance: This is definitely complex, with each sip bringing out different qualities in the bourbon. It’s sometimes sweet like dark fruit, and sometimes it’s harsh with a burning sweetness.
– Visual: Carrot in color, there is no crown, but plenty of fast-dropping, thin legs.

– Taste: No distinct flavors jump out at me on the first sip, but bourbon warmth is immediately present. Some careful digging brings more of the fruit leather and raisin from the nose, along with stronger notes of allspice, and now also ginger that has a certain sharpness.

Hints of brown sugar and apple are also distinguishable, though they are a bit more buried behind the initial warmth and dark fruit. The caramel is also here, but it has lost its grainy, crystalized structure and seems a lot more smooth in flavor. I can also find a bit of pine nuts that carry a touch of bitterness and plenty of seasoned oak.

The alcohol doesn’t sting much at the tip of the tongue, but the heat kicks in surely at the back of the palate. (I can already tell, this will give me a Kentucky hug eventually, and I feel like I have to constantly be on my guard.) A Kentucky chew dials up the alcohol heat dramatically, and leaves a chlorine, grainy, perhaps clove-y flavor in my mouth. It definitely has heat.

FINISH:

– Lasting Power: Very long. The heat of this one refuses to go away and sits at the back of my palate in particular, waiting for me to let my guard down and give me a Kentucky Hug.
– Between Sips: Apple wood is the predominant flavor between sips and it sits at the sides of palate a great deal. I almost feel as though I could chew it.

– No More: This stays really consistent throughout the pour, with the heat only continuing to build and build. The brininess of the chlorine has escalated a little, but all of the other flavors remain the same.

The empty Glencairn is a warm, stinging oak that is a lot like the nail polish remover from the nose. Nevertheless, aged oak is still present, and the empty glass smells playful and rich.

WORTH THE PRICE?

I think whenever you find a bottle of high proof bourbon at less than $50 USD, it’s a steal, and I’ll continue to maintain that position with this Stagg Jr. offering. This one has plenty of complexity and harshness from a respectable distillery that always will have my attention when new releases are made.

RATING: 92/100

Click to see Hannah’s rating process

Click 92/100 to access other whiskies with this rating.
To access other whiskies from this brand, click Stagg.

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Whiskey Reviews

Stagg Jr Batch 14 Bourbon

Brian’s Stagg Jr Batch 14 Bourbon Review

10-February-2021

STAGG JR BATCH 14 BOURBON REVIEW

At 130.2 proof, Stagg Jr Batch 14 is a potent bourbon, and while (for me) it doesn’t quite reach the standard set by recent Stagg Jr. batches, this whiskey grew on me as the glass was drawn down. It’s aromas and flavors are muted by intense heat, yet dark fruits, subtle brown sugar sweets and barrel oak are in the backbone. I enjoyed this pour all the way to the last wafts as they drifted up from the empty Glencairn and I’m sure others who like high proof bourbons will too.

STAGG JR BATCH 14 VITAL STATS
Stagg Jr Batch 14

Category: Barrel Proof Bourbon
Region: Kentucky, USA
Distiller: Buffalo Trace
Mashbill: Buffalo Trace Low Rye Mashbill #1 (<10% rye), Believed to be ~ 75% corn, 10% rye, 15% malted barley
Barrel Char: #4
Barrel Entry Proof: 125
Age: nas (~ 8 years)
Released: Spring 2020
ABV: 65.1% (130.2 Proof)
Cask Strength | Non-Chill Filtered
Price: $49.95 (Idaho, Sep-2020)
Other than the stated ABV and proof numbers, bottles of Stagg Jr have no batch identifiers on the label.

Learn more at Buffalo Trace Brands and BoubonEx – Stagg Jr Releases.

ENJOYMENT METHOD

For the evaluation, my daughter and fellow Whiskey for the Ages reviewer Hannah and I enjoyed this whiskey neat. Approximately 1.4 ounces were transferred from the newly opened bottle to our Infinity Bottle Project. Then, small alternate pours were made to capture review portions in our Glencairns.

Check out her review for this bourbon here!

STAGG JR BATCH 14 NOSE

When first brought to my nose, Stagg Jr Batch 14 was a buttery brown sugar and cinnamon caramel confection. I set the glass down, and contemplated taking the first sip, but refrained. In the second waft, I sensed dryness, little if any burn, and roasted sweet corn. Continued nosing brought dark plum, raisin, and prunes in a rich blueberry nectar. As I worked the glass, baking spices of faint allspice, powdered ginger and rye mix with brown sugared graham crackers, cocoa and light molasses. These spices and sweets were balanced by sweet light oak and faint leather.

STAGG JR BATCH 14 PALATE

In the mouth Stagg Jr Batch 14 is quite different. I tend to hold the first sips in the front of my mouth for a bit to get a “feel” for the whiskey before the swallow. I couldn’t hold long as the dry bite grew quickly to a fiery hot burn. With careful sipping (key word here: careful), roasted corn and dusty grain blend with plums, dark raisins and prunes. This bourbon wants to hug. Crushed red pepper flakes in oil and spices of cinnamon, black pepper, and rye mix with subtle sweets of bitter dark chocolate, burnt caramel and dark molasses. And when I was ready, a big Kentucky Chew, brought bitter walnut, strong old and spicy oak which faded away on toasted wood and smoky sweet barrel char.

Stagg Jr Batch 14

Balance, Body, Feel and Look:
Stagg Jr Batch 14 is quite complex … and one of the hottest bourbons I’ve had the pleasure to enjoy. Its 130.2 Proof dominates, almost masking Batch 14’s subtle flavors. Even after acclimation I sense an oiliness, yet it remains big, rough and gritty and more than tickles the tongue and mouth when held. In the Glencairn evenly spaced, fast dropping long legs dissipate quickly, returning the liquid into the carrot colored pool before leaving a faint inverted crown.

STAGG JR BATCH 14 FINISH

As each sip fades, there is a bit of tannin in each dry bite. Stagg Jr Batch 14 finishes exceptionally long and lingers on with only a few faint flavors to note. Those flavors mirror the palate and include dried field corn, dusty grain, dark stone fruit, cloves and black pepper. And ever-present is the toasted wood, hazy barrel char and leather. When gone, aromas of dry oak sawdust can be easily nosed from the empty Glencairn.

STAGG JR BATCH 14 RATING: 89/100

Will I buy this whiskey again? YES
I will ALWAYS seek out batches of Stagg Jr. and pick them up whenever found on store shelves.
Click to read Brian’s scoring process.

Click 89/100 to access other whiskies with this score.
To access other whiskies from this brand, click Stagg.

WHISKEY TRAITS AND FLAVOR NOTES AND PROFILE GRAPH
Stagg Jr Batch 14
Stagg Jr Batch 14

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