Hannah’s Stagg Jr. Batch #13 Bourbon Review
Original review written October 30, 2020
GENERAL DESCRIPTION:
Stagg Jr Batch #13 Bourbon Review: Maybe not HUGELY complex, this seems like a high proof Eagle Rare, and I couldn’t be any happier. Great Buffalo Trace offering and a great value! 97/100
VITALS:
– Made In: Kentucky, USA
– Distiller: Buffalo Trace Distillery
– Classification: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
– Age: nas (believed to be approximately 8 yrs)
– Mash Bill: Buffalo Trace Mash Bill #1 (low rye: <10%; believed to be Corn=75%; Rye=10%; Malted Barley=15%)
– Casks: Char #4
– Barrel Entry Proof: 125
– ABV: 64.2% (128.4 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 with father and fellow Whiskey for the Ages reviewer, Brian.
Check out his review for this bourbon here!
SETTING:
Batch #13 is warmth and fits in well on a desert’s evening chill. The skies have gone a royal purple as the sun descends and sand dune after sand dune ripple with a gentle breeze that only JUST whistles as it moves.
Photo by Jeremy Bishop on Unsplash
NOSE:
Baking spices are on the first inhale, with allspice being warmly dominant. Paired with it is a dark vanilla and toffee. They are in a good proportion with the spice as they are definitely present but do not contribute to a sickly sweetness at all.
Deep draws award me a caramel apple, but there is an earthiness here too. I’m not sure if it’s affiliated with the grains of the mash bill or perhaps an old leather. Either way, it has a deep and resonant tone.
There’s also age in the pour, with the oak seemingly old and well-seasoned. At nearly 130 proof, the alcohol is certainly here too and can sting if you’re not careful.
There’s a hint of a light and dark cherry when I involve the palate on the inhale. Other than that, not as much fruit as I was expecting, but I’m still excited nevertheless.
PALATE:
– Mouth Feel: Oily. I expected more grit, but am very pleased with how it works on the palate.
– Balance: The fruit is the winner here, but wow, this is solid.
– Visual: Terracotta pot in color, I get a crown, but the legs disappear quickly.
– Taste: Cherries, peaches (like peach fuzz), and a hay component hit me on my first sip, catching me quite off guard. The next sip hits similarly, but with a kick of white pepper too, which just has me beyond fascinated. Each subsequent taste is a delicious fruit syrup with a peppery, seasoned oak intertwined with the fruit perfectly.
The vanilla and caramel are barely there, with the other baking spices (although a crystalized ginger has appeared) from the nose only slightly more pronounced.
There’s absolutely a bit of heat, but surprisingly it only enhances the flavors and doesn’t BURN burn at all. Of course, without care taken, I imagine the Kentucky hug would be quite painful.
I’ve had multiple Stagg Jr. Batches before, but this one REALLY comes across as a higher proof version of Eagle Rare – one of my all-time favorite bargain bourbons. Very enjoyable.
A Kentucky chew has a fiery cherry for sure. Imagine the first bite of cherry pie (sans pie crust this time) fresh out of the oven and taken without letting it cool. I feel like I burned off taste buds, but I already want to do it again.
FINISH:
– Lasting Power: Very long. I feel the warmth everywhere and the taste is just committed to linger too.
– Between Sips: The hay/grassiness comes back here with some cherry and oak. I even have a bit of pepper (undefined type) sticking around too. I’ve got to say, as a whole, a FANTASTIC finish.
– No More: Seasoned raisins come out the further I get into the glass, and it’s certainly a welcome addition. There’s also a sensation that’s akin – but not identical – to a briny-ness. I keep going back for another sip, unable to be patient and just enjoy the finish. I’ve had to even reach for some water to quench the thirst Batch #13 generates.
The empty Glencairn is a pure oak with a bit of residual heat and bite. Very lovely.
WORTH THE PRICE?
Absolutely. I love Eagle Rare, and Stagg Jr. Batch #13 is definitely an amped version of it. At $50, this is a steal.
RATING: 97/100
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