George T. Stagg
“I’ve stopped drinking, but only while I’m asleep.”
George T Stagg is part of the limited production collection known as the Buffalo Trace Antique Collection (BTAC to the cool kids) It is uncut, unfiltered, and has been a yearly autumn release since 2002 (apart from 2005, when there were 3 releases in that calendar year. What a time to have been alive). The BTAC is probably the most sought-after American whiskey in the world and demand outstrips supply many times each year.
As with all the Antique Collection offerings, the alcohol by volume can be different each year alongside the number of barrels which are blended together. The greatest concern for all bourbon lovers is the alarming amount of whiskey which is lost over the years due to evaporation during the ageing process. When the Gents shuffle off this mortal coil we pray each night to be angels in the Buffalo Trace warehouse.
The viscosity of this liquid has to be seen to be believed and leaves treacle-like legs in the glass when swirled around. It has probably the finest nose the Gents have ever experienced and is surprisingly delicate for such an incredibly high ABV; the expected recoil just isn’t there. Instead, you get soft hints of toffee, apple (and indeed toffee apples themselves), cherry, tobacco and leather alongside espresso coffee beans, but it’s the palate that makes this the best bourbon we have ever tasted.
Warmth and intensity from the offset and then the alcohol hits you hard. Very dry and woody with the tobacco smoke coming through from the nose. We can't state enough what an intense and beautiful flavour this thing presents. The coffee from the nose makes another appearance and mingles with hints of dark chocolate. George T. Stagg is the complete American Whiskey experience and has achieved the highest score on our website and (spoiler alert) has also been awarded our first ever 10. If this bourbon could be purchased for its recommended retail price ($90), it would be the finest daily sipper known to mankind. Unfortunately, due to the insane resale prices, for most of us this is more likely to be a once-in-a-lifetime bottle.
