Stagg Jr Bourbon Batch 15 131.1 Proof

It’s like a big, warm Kentucky Bourbon hug for adults.Stagg Jr Kentucky Straight Bourbon Batch 15, Winter 2020 - 131.1 proofNose – Strong and bold.  Right away there’s a prominent showing of oak and vanilla.  A touch of that dusty warehouse comes through,and then it rolls into a creamy nougat and caramel.  I catch just a twist of apple on the nose but it’s between waves of spice and dark candy.Taste – There’s a noticeable throttle twist of heat that wakes up your senses quick, but as it fades it leaves a really satisfying coating of toffee and caramel on the palate.The darker flavors really play a big role here.  Oak and spice play off caramel and a seriously enjoyable butter toffee that I’ve not experienced in the seven or so batches of Stagg Jr.I’ve tried.Finish – A long warm Kentucky hug hangs onto most of your body here.  While there’s plenty of heat to feel, the flavors are more toward the medium side of long (think 20ishseconds).The warehouse funkiness and light touch of apple come back aroundBuffalo Trace Distillery is the oldest continually operating distillery in the United States and includes the rich legacies of master distillers such as E.H. Taylor, Jr, George T. Stagg, Albert B. Blanton, Orville Schupp, and Elmer T. Lee. Today, the distillery is still family-owned, operating on the same 130 acres of land adjacent to the Kentucky River as it has for over 200 years. Buffalo Trace has produced a wide array of bourbons and whiskeys, featuring several collections from the Antique and O.F.C. Vintages, to Van Winkle and E.H. Taylor. Their Stagg Jr. releases are limited edition barrel proof bourbons, much like the George T. Stagg version included in the Buffalo Trace Antique Collection.The distillery released their first Stagg Jr. in August of 2013 and they have produced about two batches every year. Each batch of Stagg is blended from bourbons aged approximately 8 or 9 years, and released at a high and unique barrel proof. The proof numbers are used to identify specific batches. These releases have received plenty of praise over the years and are beloved by many bourbon enthusiasts. Batch 13 of the Stagg Jr. was released in 2020 and it retains the intensity and complexity of the previous releases. It has spent 8 years in new charred American oak barrels. Uncut and unfiltered, it's bottled at 128.4 proof, making it a "Jr." in name onlyBottle Size: 750ml