George T. Stagg Bourbon 2012
George T. Stagg Bourbon 2012: Specs
Classification: Bourbon
Origin: Buffalo Trace Distillery
Mashbill: Buffalo Trace High-Rye Mashbill (#1)
Proof: 142.8 (71.4% ABV)
Age: 16 Years 9 Months
Location: Kentucky
George T. Stagg Bourbon 2012 Price: N/A
George T. Stagg Bourbon 2012 Review: Tasting Notes
Eye: Barrel aged maple syrup. Thin, faulty rims with syrupy droplets.
Nose: Vinous, chocolatey heat. This one’s not shy, that’s for sure. There’s oak, too, a bit of menthol. Vanillas and caramels lead the way - there’s a striking lack of cherry given the general Stagg profile.
Palate: Hot! Hot! Hot! There’s the cherry, though, fully candied. Caramel brittle studded with peppercorns. Very light chocolate notes, cloves and Red Hots. Mouthfeel is viscous and velvety, coating, oily, keeps the heat going while the chocolate emerges in a dazzling display, rich and semisweet.
Finish: Mostly like after you eat a rich, rich brownie - chocolate bits stuck in your teeth and the crooks of your mouth. A bit of gianduja too. Medium length - wish it was longer but I really can’t complain.
Overall: A tasty chocolate firecracker. The proof is there at first, but backs off delicately to a peppery spice. The chocolate evolves beautifully from heat to richness over the nose, palate, mouthfeel, and finish.
Final Rating: 9.1
10 | Insurpassable | Nothing Else Comes Close (Blanton’s Straight from the Barrel)
9 | Incredible | Extraordinary (GTS, Elijah Craig Barrel Proof B518 and B520)
8 | Excellent | Exceptional (12+YO MGP Bourbon, Highland Park Single Barrels)
7 | Great | Well above average (Blanton’s Original, Old Weller Antique, Booker’s)
6 | Very Good | Better than average (Four Roses Small Batch Select, Knob Creek 14+ YO Picks)
5 | Good | Good, solid, ordinary (Elijah Craig Small Batch, Buffalo Trace, Old Grand-Dad Bottled-in-Bond)
4 | Sub-par | Many things I’d rather have (A.D. Laws Four Grain, Compass Box “Oak Cross”)
3 | Bad | Flawed (Iron Smoke Bourbon, Balcones)
2 | Poor | Forced myself to drink it (Buckshee Bourbon and Rye)
1 | Disgusting | Drain pour (Virginia Distilling Co. Cider Cask)
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