Hannah’s Stagg Jr Batch #15 Bourbon Review
Original review written September 7, 2021
GENERAL DESCRIPTION:
This certainly meets and exceeds Stagg Jr. Batch expectations. Plenty of heat while not drinking like a 131 proof exactly, this still manages a beautiful blend. 93/100
VITALS:
– Made In: Kentucky, USA
– Distiller: Buffalo Trace Distillery
– Classification: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey; Small Batch
– Age: nas (~8 yrs.)
– Mash Bill: Mash #1 (low rye <10%)
– Casks: Char #4
– Non-Chill Filtered
– Barrel Entry Proof: 125
– ABV: 65.55% (131.1 proof)
– 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 for this bourbon here!
SETTING:
Stagg Jr. Batch #15 is the perfect bourbon to relax with on your porch during the autumn season. The air has a small chill, and all of the leaves are starting to change their color, and some may even fall to sit with you. Winter is still far off, and the air tastes sweet, and all you need to stay warm is a glass of good bourbon.
Photo by Craig Dimmick on Unsplash
NOSE:
Brown sugar, allspice, white pepper, butterscotch… flavors are just begging to burst from the glass even on the first inhale. This has already a textural component, despite it being just the nose. I get a thick, syrup quality, maybe like corn syrup, but with dark cherries and a bit of molasses mixed in. The alcohol is also a very forward and definitely can hurt if you aren’t careful.
After it aerates for a while, a grape – almost wine-like element comes forth, perhaps like a pinot-noir as there is plenty of sweetness to be found. Dark vanilla also emerges with some oak sawdust, and the nutmeg aspect of the allspice only becomes more fragrant. And strangely enough, perhaps I am imagining it, but I can detect some sweetened banana chips with some citrus blossoms for extra fruit.
Overall, (I think it should be obvious), I love how this smells, so much so, I could contentedly just sit and smell this all night long.
PALATE:
– Mouth Feel: This has a raspy feel to it, grabbing onto taste buds and leaving the palate tingly.
– Balance: This is incredibly well-blended. Beyond the heat, it can be quite difficult to pull individual flavors. Still, the flavors that are found are absolutely delicious and very cohesive with one another.
– Visual: Terracotta in color, the ring is almost perfectly formed with many thin legs dropping to coalesce into fewer, thicker ones. Beyond this, there is a filmy residue that goes all the way up to the lip of the Glencairn. This has occurred in both Dad’s and my glasses, and we have never seen the likes of it before, nor do we know what it could be.
– Taste: The flavors on the palate are not as readily apparent as they were on the nose. The initial alcohol burn cuts through many of the flavors and obscures them. Nevertheless, I find a very crisp apple, a hard caramel candy, corn, and cinnamon predominantly. Finding much else is admittedly quite difficult, as the blend makes this very cohesive. If I really look, I can identify a simple syrup and maybe blackberry juice mingling with the main flavors.
The back of my palate has a raspy texture, where some other flavors try to peek through. Among them are some dark dried fruits and ginger that kicks up the heat. With the heat is some seasoned/spicy oak and the hint of something bitter. It could be nutty, could be zesty (most likely), or something even herbal.
My palate has acclimated to the burn, and I find I can let it sit at the tip of my tongue for some time. However, the flavor profile does not change much. When I do a Kentucky chew, my palate feels prickled, and my salivary glands are working overtime to soothe the burn. A musty age comes out with some brininess.
FINISH:
– Lasting Power: Long. The heat lingers for quite some time in the throat, and the flavor does a pretty good job of keeping up with it.
– Between Sips: I find some of the mustiness from the Kentucky chew between sips. It’s aged wood, and dusty grain, but it doesn’t leave a bad taste in the mouth at all.
– No More: Some sweetness grows the further into the glass I get, with caramel and maple syrup growing to become the most dominant flavors. There is also a resurgence of cherry and other dark fruit nectar. A great bourbon only becoming greater is what that means.
The empty Glencairn is a sweet oak with a bit of simple syrup. It matches the theme of the bourbon overall, being rich, deep, and intense.
THE ADDITION OF WATER
– This section written on September 11, 2021 –
Stagg Jr Batch #15 Bourbon Review: Water can often tame bold whiskeys and the addition of 2-4 drops will not radically change the proof of the pour. Rather water may help open the spirit allowing the aromas and flavors to bloom. As such, 2 and 4 drops of distilled water were added to their own respective 1.5 oz. pours of Stagg Jr. Batch #15 to detect any potential differences:
A sudden mineral quality jumps out on the taste with two drops added. There is still a crispness with some of the flavors of the neat pour, but this tastes quite clean. I also get a higher concentration of brininess on this palate too that makes me salivate. The alcohol is a bit of a punch, and it pairs nicely with some cherry chasing after it, but it’s not overwhelming. Note that these differences from the neat pour are extremely subtle, and I don’t think this bourbon improves or worsens with the addition of two drops. The mineral essence is the only thing I can see as being a hindrance. (RATING: 91/100)
Four drops has certainly made this even more mild, with only a little raspy heat coming in at the back of the palate. Traditional bourbon notes with some wood provide a foundation, but a lot of the other flavors have dissipated significantly. Some of the fruitiness is still present, but it’s more on the finish than on the actual palate. The brininess is about the same as it was with two drops, but it’s now coupled with a barrel char bitterness. I imagine if you like scotches, this may be quite appealing, but if I’m drinking a high proof bourbon, I am looking always for sweetness first. This is still decent, but I definitely recommend enjoying this neat, but if you need water, add only two drops. (RATING: 88/100)
WORTH THE PRICE?
As always, $50 USD for a Stagg Jr. (a high proof, well-blended, sophisticated bourbon) is undoubtedly worth it. If you find any Stagg Jr., I highly recommend trying it out if you can handle the heat they bring.
STAGG JR BATCH #15 BOURBON REVIEW RATING: 93/100
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