Gary

Managing apostle and whiskey enthusiast

George T Stagg (2018)

/ / Bourbon, Review /

George T. Stagg Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

2018 Release
62.45% ABV
$90 to ??? (retail has gotten unpredictable)
Website
Stagg

What the Distiller Says

This extremely hearty whiskey ages in new charred oak barrels for no less than 15 years. Straight out of the barrel, uncut and unfiltered, the taste is powerful, flavorful and intense. Open it up with a few drops of water, sit back and ponder the wonders of the universe.

The 2018 release is comprised of barrels aged for more than 15 years and 4 months.

TASTING NOTES:
Lush toffee sweetness and dark chocolate with hints of vanilla, fudge, nougat and molasses. Underlying notes of dates, tobacco, dark berries, spearmint and a hint of coffee round out the palate.

What Gary Says:

Nose: Rich dark chocolate, charred oak, vanilla, brown sugar, cigar paper; bit of water tamps the oak, brightens it and brings out more caramel with toffee.
Palate: Warm, dark chocolate with vanilla, raisins, hint of cherries, cinnamon; bit of water brings out malted chocolate candy with milk chocolate and caramel.
Finish: Moderately long, drying with a spicy smoke note.
Comments: Very similar to the 2014 (in fact, I took a bit of both vintages, brought them down to 100 proof – and found them virtually identical).  Which is to say delicious.  My track record of never meeting a George T. Stagg I didn’t like remains unscathed.

Rating: Must Buy

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George T Stagg (2014)

/ / Bourbon, Review /

George T. Stagg Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

2014 Release
69.05% ABV
$80 to $100 (retail)
Website
Stagg

What the Distiller Says

This extremely hearty whiskey ages in new charred oak barrels for no less than 15 years. Straight out of the barrel, uncut and unfiltered, the taste is powerful, flavorful and intense. Open it up with a few drops of water, sit back and ponder the wonders of the universe.

The 2014 release is comprised of barrels aged for more than 16 years and 4 months.

TASTING NOTES:
Lush toffee sweetness and dark chocolate with hints of vanilla, fudge, nougat and molasses. Underlying notes of dates, tobacco, dark berries, spearmint and a hint of coffee round out the palate.

What Gary Says:

Nose: Rich dark chocolate, charred oak, vanilla, molasses, cigar paper; bit of water tamps the oak and brings out more brown sugar and toffee.
Palate: Warm, bitter chocolate with vanilla, raisins, cinnamon; bit of water brings out more caramel, more milk chocolate and mixed nuts.
Finish: Moderately long, drying with a smokey note of dark roasted coffee.
Comments: I have never met a George T. Stagg that I didn’t like. Are some years “better” than others? I suppose if you’re blessed to have multiples laying around to compare – sure.
I’ve never had one that I thought wasn’t pretty damn great. Where does this sit? No idea; I did a blind side-by-side between this and the 2018 vintage – which is 13 proof points lower – and found the differences to be few/far between. This is one of those that if I ever see it retail (stop laughing, it might happen again some day) and it isn’t marked up obscenely – it’s an automatic buy for me.

Rating: Must Buy

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Four Roses Elliott’s Select 2016 Limited Edition Single Barrel

/ / Bourbon, Review /

Four Roses Elliott’s Select 2016 Limited Edition Single Barrel

56.5% ABV (varies by barrel/bottle)
$125
Website

What the Distiller Says

Barrel strength. OESK. 14 years. Only 10,000 bottles produced. Introducing, Elliott’s Select.

Elliott’s Select is a limited-quantity Single Barrel Bourbon and marks the first limited edition bottling released by Brent Elliott, our master distiller.

Brent Elliott, who assumed the post of master distiller in September 2015, personally hand-selected the 14-year-old OESK, one of the Distillery’s 10 unique Bourbon recipes.

Subtle aromas of peach jam, magnolia blossoms and light oak preview the elegantly-balanced flavors of spiced vanilla, fresh nutmeg and delicate, ripe fruits. Sweet flavors of honey and light apricot linger in the finish.

What Gary Says

Nose:  Rich, thick, robust caramel, fair amount of oak, vanilla, hazelnuts, allspice and nutmeg.
Palate:  Creamy mouthfeel, sweet vanilla ice cream with caramel sauce; a dusting of nutmeg and cinnamon with and a hint of butterscotch that gives way to a pepper spice note.
Finish:  Long and lingering with a hint of cinnamon and a strong hit of pepper spice on the way out.
Comments:  The last few Four Roses samples I’ve spent time with have had a lovely subtle note of butterscotch; reminding me a bit of dusty National Distiller’s bourbon (not nearly that intense though).  The OESK recipe isn’t one of my favorites, but this particular bourbon is delightful.  Rich and robust flavor, wonderfully balanced, and not the slightest bit over-oaked.

Rating: Must Try

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Old Forester Birthday Bourbon 2017

/ / Bourbon, Review /

Old Forester Birthday Bourbon 2017

48% ABV
$80
Website

What the Distiller Says

The 2017 Old Forester Birthday Bourbon was drawn from 12 year old barrels from different warehouses and floors. A total of 120 barrels; 93 barrels matured together on the 4th floor of G warehouse, yielding an extremely spice forward expression. The remaining 27 barrels matured together on the 5th floor of K warehouse contributing a rounding sweetness to the blend. Several barrels from both lots basked in the sun, highlighting the effects of maturation along an external wall.

Barreled on May 27, 2005 – Old Forester 2017 Birthday Bourbon is offered at 96 and 95.4 Proof.

TASTING NOTES
COLOR: Bright golden honey
AROMA: Sweet toasted oak and black pepper with a heavy suggestion of orange oil and toffee
TASTE: Oak spice and charred black pepper dominate over a subtle core of chocolate custard and kola nut.
FINISH: Spicy perimeter mouthfeel that slowly cascades off revealing floral undertones and cocoa powder.

What Gary Says

Nose:  Vanilla, salted caramel, solid dose of oak, brown sugar,  allspice and a hint of raisins; a bit sharp as well.
Palate:  Vanilla, caramel apple, allspice, cinnamon with oaky pepper spice.
Finish:  Short to moderately in length, drying with pepper spice notes.
Comments:  I haven’t bought an Old Forester Birthday Bourbon in many years.  Each year is a bit different; some years have been flat out delicious, where other years have been pretty unremarkable – at least for my palate.  This one sits squarely in that latter camp for me.  Pretty oaky, a bit on the sharp side, and just not well balanced.  When they were $35 a throw, I didn’t mind taking the gamble on what it might be, but at $80 – I expect a consistently great bourbon; because in that price tier – you should.  Maybe others find this hitting right in their wheelhouse consistently; if so – this didn’t strike me as anything particularly off-putting.  Just not particularly special.

Rating: Average

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Four Roses 130th Anniversary Small Batch Limited Edition 2018

/ / Bourbon, Review /

Four Roses 130th Anniversary Small Batch Limited Edition 2018

54.2% ABV
$140
Website

What the Distiller Says

If you’d like to experience some of the best Bourbons we’ve ever put in a bottle, ask about our Limited Edition bottlings at your favorite bar or liquor store. From time to time, our Master Distiller hand selects a few exceptional barrels from our 10 Bourbon recipes for these special releases. Each is non-chill filtered and barrel strength, so you get to savor them exactly as they come out of the barrel. Look for them. Find them. Collect them. Share them. Or not.

TASTING NOTES
Nose: Warm aromas of rich vanilla, mingled with raspberries, crème brûlée and ripe berries.
Palate: Bright apricot flavors greet the palate, then give way to hints of mint, cinnamon, apple and mellow oak.
Finish: Very long, with notes of cinnamon, more fruit and vanilla.

Recipes:
10-year-old OBSV
13-year-old OBSF
14-year-old OESV
16-year-old OESK

What Gary Says

Nose:  Rich, vanilla, coffee cake, a floral mustiness, nutty butterscotch, allspice and a hint of anise.
Palate:  Creamy mouthfeel, sweet entry with caramel, vanilla, honey before sharpening with lovely spices (nutmeg, allspice) and oak (maybe a hint of clove).
Finish:  Moderately long, slightly drying with oak spice and a hint of cinnamon.
Comments:  The bit of butterscotch I get from this reminds me of dusty Old Taylor (which is a huge compliment for those unfamiliar). It isn’t the ‘butterscotch bomb’ that you find there, but if tasting blind – I might have guessed this to be mingled with some dusty Old Taylor. This is flat out delicious, which isn’t a surprise to me. I’ve yet to find a Four Roses Small Batch Limited Edition I didn’t think was pretty amazing, and this continues that trend. I lament no longer being able to walk into a store and pick one of these up for $80 (or even the ability to walk in and buy one retail for the current MSRP; locally you’ve got to be in good with a store and get lucky). But if I found myself staring at one in a retail store that wasn’t gouging, this would be an automatic buy for me every time.

Rating: Must Buy

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