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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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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