George T. Stagg Bourbon 2005 Fall Release
George T. Stagg Bourbon 2005 Fall Release: Specs
Classification: Bourbon
Origin: Buffalo Trace Distillery
Mashbill: Buffalo Trace High-Rye Mashbill (#1)
Proof: 141.2 (70.6% ABV)
Age: 15 Years 4 Months
Location: Kentucky
George T. Stagg Bourbon 2005 Fall Release Price: N/A
George T. Stagg Bourbon 2005 Fall Release Review: Tasting Notes
Eye: Beautiful maplewood. Thin rims, no legs.
Nose: Ok - this smells more like a Stagg. Rich bourbon notes of caramel, spice, and vanilla. Strong proof, but not straight ethanol. Luxardo cherry in the bottom of a finished Old Fashioned.
Palate: Hot as hell, but there is good flavor behind the heat. That is, until the oak comes in and wallops my tongue - damn. Cherry Twizzlers or Red Vines, lots of astringency and oak - feels like my tongue is being drained of every water molecule it has. Mouthfeel is still super hot, Szechuan peppercorn and oak, with the flavor almost completely gone by the time the second sip is done. This year was weird - the Lot B was so good, but this is closer to Lot A, just hotter.
Finish: Oaky, a touch of cherry meekly coming through. A barrel aged Old Fashioned that’s been in the barrel for 10 years.
Overall: Oak - way too much oak. The nose is the single redeeming point here. The rest is really disappointing - glad the next year turns the page!
Final Rating: 4.5
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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