A little background

George T. Stagg is one of five offerings in Buffalo Trace’s Antique Collection. This whiskey is NAS (no age statement) but ages for no less than 15 years. This bourbon was distilled in spring 2003 and bottled in fall 2018. The bourbon was released at 124.9 proof. MSRP was set at $99 for the 2018 release. Only 284 hand selected barrels were chosen to be bottled in 2018 after the bourbon had rested for 15 years and 4 months. This Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey is uncut and unfiltered. It was awarded a Double Gold Medal in the 2018 World Spirits Competition. The original George T. Stagg distillery was one of four distilleries that were permitted to remain in operation during prohibition. The history and heritage of this spirit hold up to the words of an 1890 Bourbon Expert, “ne plus ultra of its class,” “the best of the best.”

(Tasted neat from a Cradle Glass Glass)

Color

Dark Copper

Nose

The nose will entice you with a complex array of notes including cigar tobacco, espresso, smoke, char, vanilla, cherry, cinnamon, and oak.

Palate

The first sip coats the mouth and has a medium viscosity. Notes of char, tobacco, caramel, and vanilla are present. The second sip erupts with toffee, smoke, and dark chocolate notes. The spirit warms the mouth and settles with a heat in the chest. This third sip is an incredible mixture of all the tasting notes listed above and permeates the entire mouth.

Finish

The finish is long and pleasant. The heat from this bourbon is evident across the top of the tongue and stimulated a Pavlovian response. Notes of smoke, oak, and char are initially present. These favors progress into cinnamon and dark roast coffee. As the bourbon lingers faint notes of cinnamon and clove emerge.

In conclusion

George T. Stagg Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey is rich in flavor and tradition. The nose is complex with a wide variety of notes including tobacco, smoke, cherries, and vanilla. Each sip of this bourbon erupts with flavor. Smoke, char, tobacco, and dark chocolate are most notable. The finish is long and mouthwatering. Lingering notes of cinnamon and clove are a pleasant surprise evident in the finish.