Stagg Jr Barrel Proof Bourbon Batch 11

Great stuff. Not as good as Batch 13. Not as complex and heavy and rich. This is closer to OWA and ORVW than GTS. I was able to try this during a very long night of whiskey tasting, but I was unfortunately unable to take good notes. I use the rating scale below. Distiller uses a scale of 5 and I use a scale of 10, but I’m sure you’re not too drunk to do the math! 1. Disgusting - So bad I poured it out. 2. Poor - I wouldn't consume by choice. 3. Bad - Multiple flaws. 4. Below average - Not bad, but many things I'd rather have. 5. Good - Just average. 6. Very Good - Better than average. 7. Great - Well above average. 8. Excellent - In a league of its own. 9. Incredible - An all-time favorite. 10. Perfect

Despite the high proof of 127.4, this has a surprisingly soft smell. There are scents of salted soft caramel, with a hint of peanuts. I would compare the smell closely to peanut brittle. The taste has a comfortable warm burn. It leaves the tastes of applesauce and cherries that flows right into a sweet strawberry jam. There is a semi hidden note of leaves and fall. The finish is pleasant and leave behind notes of cinnamon and nutmeg.

Clear, deep burnt orange. Fruity nose with cinnamon applesauce, orange oil, and dried cherries, along with dark chocolate, toffee, and some char. Robust, penetrating palate with cedar, sweet pipe tobacco, and concentrated chai tea. Long finish, with oak-driven vanilla. The 127.9 proof makes itself known, but is balanced with the full-throttle palate and aromatics. Hard to believe this bourbon could be better--except as Stagg "Sr."

Nose: Sweet, caramelized red fruit, buttery....with a hint of sweet buffalo Palate: It’s like your grandma made a cherry pie in an oak pie pan, covered it with sugar and hit it with a blow torch. Finish: A big American kick to the throat followed by a big warm Kentucky hug from your Grandma’s sisters cousin Darlene It may not be the best batch made, but it’s damn good and everything you expect from the name on the bottle

On the nose: dark fruit (raisins?), cinnamon and vanilla. The arrival is syrupy and jammy, with the fruit stealing the show. The heat and spice make a strong entrance on the mid-palate, but given the proof this is a surprisingly smooth dram. The finish is long, with some bitter dark chocolate appearing with the cinnamon and some barrel char. A fantastic deal at $50

First Stagg Jr. I did a blind taste test with this and Booker's Shiny Barrel Batch. Shiny Barrel won pretty solidly. However, this is very good. It's as some say not as complex as maybe other batches (I dont know) it's certainly not as complex as the Booker's. I wouldnt pay over 100 for this. Under 90 seems about right. But it's not one to sell the farm for.