We hit the Roosevelt Room tonight after dinner and saw George T Stagg on the menu and knew what I had to do(also they were out of ER17 and Saz 18 which made it easy). After quickly Googling the proof this appears to be the 2017. George T Stagg is the big brother so to speak of Stagg Jr, a personal favorite, and part of the Buffalo Trace Antique Collection.
Review
Age: NAS
Abv: 129.2 proof (64.6% ABV)
Color: A vibrant gold and red
Neat
Nose: Baking spice, brown sugar and oak, sort of like the Great British Bake Off gone off the rails but with enough alcohol to know it’s going to be good
Taste: Hot! But good. Delightful notes of vanilla caramel and oak with hints of spice and dark fruit, maybe cherries?
Finish: Shorter than I expected as the sweet and oak fade to a medium baking spice and just a bit of heat
On a rock
Nose: Amazing all the notes from the neat nose are still present even if slightly mellowed
Taste: The ice smooths out any lingering heat and while the oak backs off a bit the spice more than steps up to take it’s place
Finish: About the same as neat, sweet fades spice lingers and just a bit of heat to lead you into the next sip
Conclusion
This whiskey was extremely good. Sure it was a little hot especially neat but the depth of the flavor more than makes up from it. This makes 3 down and 2 to go, I’m still on the hunt for ER17 and Saz 18 to round of the BTAC, but the journey has been amazing so far. I’d definitely love to pick up a bottle at some point but I doubt I’ll have the chance.
9 - a favorite I’d like to keep on my shelf
Scale
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