Stagg Bourbon Batch #24A Proof 127.6 6-8 years old BATCH 24
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Review 19, Stagg (Jr. if you prefer), Batch 24a
Misc: And here we have it, the first release of Stagg for 2024 (although I believe 23C might have actually entered distribution in some areas in January of this year). This appears to have just landed, as I cannot find much as far as information about this one on the web. I believe that Stagg is made with Buffalo Trace’s mash bill 1 (low rye).
Proof and Age: 127.6, said to be 6-8 years old.
Method: Neat, rested in a Glencairn for about 2 hours. Opening pour.
Nose: Cocoa powder, rich leather and caramel, a hint of vanilla, and some oak and subtle barrel char. I always look for grape in Stagg but am not finding it except for a possible very slight hint. The more I nose this pour, the more enjoyable I find the rich aromas wafting from the Glencairn.
Palate: Hits the palate with decent proof but I wouldn’t call it hot. My palate first picks up some oak, followed by oiled leather. Second sip and the baking spices hit me full on. By the fourth sip I am finding a hint of grape, which is my favorite part of Stagg. There is a bit of dryness from barrel char, but that’s not a bad thing, and the dryness will likely dissipate over the next few months.
Finish: Medium to long. Not an intense heat, but there is a nice Kentucky hug that builds slowly over time and lasts a good while. Baking spices are forefront on the finish, oak, leather, caramel, and still some dusty barrel char.
Thoughts: If there is a detractor in this pour it is that there is a slight dry element that I can only (with my amateur palate) attribute to barrel char. It’s not unpleasant to me, and again, I suspect that as this bottle gets some air over time, the dark fruit and berry flavors that I love in Stagg will likely start to take center stage. I am struggling with a score here. There are aspects of this that I already love, and aspects that I believe are yet to be discovered as I get to know this bottle. For now, I think I have to give this a 7, and am excited to see what happens over the next few months.
