George T. Stagg Bourbon 2019
George T. Stagg Bourbon 2019: Specs
Classification: Bourbon
Origin: Buffalo Trace Distillery
Mashbill: Buffalo Trace High-Rye Mashbill (#1)
Proof: 116.9 (58.45% ABV)
Age: 15 Years 3 Months
Location: Kentucky
George T. Stagg Bourbon 2019 Price: $99 (MSRP)
George T. Stagg Bourbon 2019 Review: Tasting Notes
Eye: Clear amber maple syrup. Medium, unstable rims with singular droplets.
Nose: Pure bourbon notes, light heat (especially for a George T. Stagg), doesn’t blow out my nose. Rye spice is there without really being there, slightly floral and herbal. Red and stone fruits develop alongside semisweet chocolate.
Palate: Caramel bomb, plenty of oaky dryness and dried stone fruits. Heat is pleasant and carries a good peppery/baking spice, cloves in particular. Becomes more chocolatey as it develops. Chocolate covered spiced red fruits, with the heat carrying the flavors from start to finish. Mouthfeel is full, slightly dry and coating, oily, carrying the chocolate forward.
Finish: Medium length, quite full-bodied, coating the whole palate in fruity, chocolatey goodness. Fruity acidity opens up towards the 2-3 minute mark.
Overall: While not perfect, this is an upper echelon bourbon and an excellent benchmark for what George T. Stagg should be. At the lowest proof ever released, I know a lot of people thought less of this batch before it ever came out. I encourage them to continue thinking that way so that I can enjoy what they’ve missed out on.
Final Rating: 9.4
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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