Brian’s Stagg Jr Batch 13 Review:
30-October-2020
STAGG JR BATCH 13 BOURBON REVIEW:
What a bourbon! For those of you who have wished for a barrel proof Eagle Rare, this is it. The nose is full of dark fruit and woody goodness, and the palate fortifies the earthy aromas. And oh what a finish – my mouth waters at the memory. This bourbon is so good I had to get more when the evaluation pour was emptied. Usually when I prepare a review, I work my way around the Bourbon Flavor Wheel we’ve created. Not so this time; I bounced from side to side, top to bottom and even added more aromas as I tasted this fine elixir.
STAGG JR BATCH 13* VITAL STATS:
Category: Bourbon
Region: Kentucky, USA
Distiller: Buffalo Trace
Mashbill: Buffalo Trace Mashbill #1 (low rye <=10% rye) Believed to be ~ 75% corn, 10% rye, 15% malted barley
Cask: New charred oak
Barrel Entry Proof: 125
Barrel Char: #4
Age: nas (believed to be ~8 years)
Cask Strength | Non-Chill Filtered
ABV: 64.2% (128.4 Proof)
Price $49.95 (Dec 2019 in Idaho)
Learn more at https://buffalotracedistillery.com/.
*Other than ABV and proof numbers, batch info is not printed on bottles of Stagg Jr. An internet search for the proof of “128.4” reveals this bottle to be Batch 13, bottled in the fall of 2019.
*See bourbonex.com for Stagg Jr batch detail.
ENJOYMENT METHOD:
For the evaluation, I shared Glencairns of Batch 13 with my daughter and fellow Whiskey for the Ages reviewer Hannah.
Check out her review for this bourbon here!
STAGG JR BATCH 13 NOSE:
As I noted above, Stagg Jr Batch 13 is an amazing bourbon; there are so many aromas to test the nose. At first it is dry and hot as it nips with aromas of sherry wine and a potpourri of fragrant dried fruit blossoms, mixed with roasted corn and dusty grain. Then oddly satisfying notes of chocolate covered Maraschino cherries and juicy dried apple blend into humble apple cinnamon pie filling, cloves and a sensation of light rye. Sweets of chocolate cream and vanilla custard greet the nose as maple sugar, buttery woody caramel and chocolate covered roasted pine-nut toffee rise from the Glencairn. Most surprising for me was the sweet aroma of blueberry nectar which came after a solid Kentucky Chew. And at all times, dry, seasoned and hazy, toasted oak waft in on fragrant worked leather. Batch 13 is solid, earthy and deep.
STAGG JR BATCH 13 PALATE:
I enjoyed a nice burn upon taking the first sip. Gone are the floral elements, but the roasted corn and dusty grain remain as do Maraschino cherries joined by dried dark fruit and plump juicy gourmet raisins. And after a a long Kentucky Chew, blueberry nectar. Spices of cinnamon, black pepper and rye dance on the tongue with sweets of melting chocolate coins, dark vanilla, woody caramel and the chocolate covered roasted pine-nut toffee sensed on the nose. And as on each waft dry, heavily seasoned and hazy, toasted oak and harness leather tantalize. Stagg Jr Batch 13 generates saliva even when not in the mouth.
Balance, Body, Feel and Look:
Batch 13 is well blended, viscous, oily and rich, yet rough on the tongue when held in the mouth. In the Glencairn evenly spaced well defined crown which remains after each sip as thin fast dropping long legs return to the burnt amber colored pool.
STAGG JR BATCH 13 FINISH:
Stagg Jr Batch 13 finishes exceptionally long as its flavors linger on the tongue and in my mouth and throat. Blueberries and an undefined juicy dark stone fruit are blended with spices of cinnamon and black pepper and a not unpleasant aftertaste of dark molasses. When the pour is gone, hints of alcohol, dry old oak and barrel char and notes of worked leather waft from the Glencairn.
STAGG JR BATCH 13 RATING: 94/100
Will I buy this whiskey again? YES
(And I would buy more if found at or under $100.00 – double MSRP.)
Click to read Brian’s scoring process.
The score of 94 was the highest I’d given a whiskey at the time of this review (Fall 2020). Click 94/100 to access other whiskies with this score.
To access other whiskies from this brand, click Stagg.
WHISKEY TRAITS AND FLAVOR NOTES AND PROFILE GRAPH:
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