Hannah’s Stagg Jr. Batch #12 Bourbon Review
Original review written March 7, 2020
GENERAL DESCRIPTION:
Stagg Jr. Batch #12 Bourbon Review: Offers a robust and intense character in its profile – likely a result of the high proof. This is not for the faint of heart, but enjoyable for experienced whiskey drinkers who like the heat. 93/100
VITALS:
– Made In: Kentucky, USA
– Distiller: Buffalo Trace Distillery
– Classification: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
– Age: nas (~8 yrs.)*
– Mash Bill: Buffalo Trace mash bill recipe #1 which is a low rye (<10%)
– Casks: New charred oak; Char #4
– Barrel Entry Proof: undisclosed
– ABV: 66.05% (132.1 proof)*
– Non-chill filtered and Cask Strength
– Price: $49.95 USD in Idaho
*Stagg Jr. has no batch identifiers beyond ABV/proof. Internet sources claim that this ABV (66.05%) is Batch #12, bottled in the summer of 2019. It is believed to be 7-9 years old.
Visit buffalotracedistillery.com and bourbonex.com for more information about Buffalo Trace products and Stagg Jr. Batch descriptions
ENJOYMENT METHOD:
I enjoyed the juice neat from a Glencairn glass with father and fellow Whiskey for the Ages reviewer, Brian.
Check out his review for this bourbon here!
SETTING:
With the depth in this glass, I think this pour would be superb on a hot, autumn day in the middle of an apple orchard. Light perfumes invade the senses and the taste-buds long for something bright and sweet to give this spirit the flight it has earned.
Photo by James Pettecrew on Unsplash
NOSE:
Dark fruits are immediately apparent, particularly raisins and other assorted dried offerings, like cherries. I also detect cinnamon and nutmeg. Deep inhales provide a very subtle, almost invisible yeast, making me think of a cinnamon-raisin bagel once I put all of the flavors together. However, such deep inhales do have the power to burn, so exercise some caution and respect.
As the glass continues to warm, I can pull a toffee and caramel essence, sweet smoke and sawdust. Black pepper also comes alive, followed by a light, but wet hay. This is sweetened by just a touch of maple.
I’m sure I could find more flavors if I looked, but I think it’s safe to say that this nose is complex and can boast many flavors. Whether it’s over the top or not, we will learn on the sip.
PALATE:
– Mouth Feel: There’s definitely a rich and oily texture here. Very nice.
– Balance: I had concerns going in, but this is well-blended and quite enjoyable.
– Visual: Terracotta in color, there are ill-defined legs that coat the glass and drip from a weak crown.
– Taste: Aside from a sharp, short alcohol burn, I feel as though I have just bitten into a fig and pastry snack, only for it to be angrily chased off by dried cherries. Then it begins to morph into this wine-esque sip, thick in body and texture, with both red and green grapes popping in like fireworks.
The spice is still there too, with cinnamon, nutmeg and white pepper combining pleasantly.
First impressions are certainly that this is sweet, almost like a fruit syrup. If I look past these dominant flavors, there are peeled caramel apples. Think of the ones you could get from a fast food joint. No, that’s not as criticism.
I can’t find too much grain, aside from a raw and fibrous chew that seems a bit like a misfit amongst the fruit sweetness, but I’m not disappointed. I suppose if I squint, I can taste some peanuts, which are working to contribute both a savory and sweet element. This pairs with a heavy oak quite nicely.
A Kentucky chew wakes up some maraschino cherries and gives a solid punch of alcohol that tingles so much that it is almost painful. Almost.
FINISH:
– Lasting Power: Surprisingly, this only has a medium finish. I’d expect more from high proof products generally, but it’s still decent.
– Between Sips: Wheat (maybe hay) and some light oak sawdust are the most obvious between sips. There is a twinge of of floral and fruit notes that are indistinct and more like impressions rather than fully-developed presences.
– No More: Plenty of warmth and cherries continue to develop the further I get into the glass, along with green grapes found in fruit cups.
The empty Glencairn might as well be a lumber mill with how much oak, particularly sawdust, is bursting from the glass. I absolutely love this smell.
WORTH THE PRICE?
I think that it is quite rare to find something that is such a high proof from a well-known distillery priced at just $50. If you find a Stagg Jr., I definitely think it’s worth it. If you are just a beginner at whiskey or bourbon, however, wait until you are ready for such a high proof.
RATING: 93/100
Click to see Hannah’s rating process
Click 93/100 to access other whiskies with this rating.
To access other whiskies from this brand, click Stagg.
Back to …
