“It ain’t no enjoyable if the homies can’t have none” – Nathaniel Dwayne Hale, b.ok.a. Nate Dogg
It’s a persistent truism on the planet of whiskey that nice drams are supposed to be shared. It’s an inclusive ethos that permeates the whiskey fanatic neighborhood, and which units it aside from so many different collector cultures. Whereas some search out the toughest to seek out bourbons with the intent of by no means opening or sharing them with others, these poor souls are within the excessive minority. By and enormous, whiskey persons are among the nicest you’ll meet. Most take extra delight in sharing their bounty and spreading the gospel of brown water than they do in selfishly hoarding it for themselves.
As a result of I imagine wholeheartedly that this tradition of jovial sharing is a part of what makes having fun with whiskey so great, I strive at each flip to make it part of my follow. As somebody who owns tons of of bottles it’s each a realistic choice (in that I’d be arduous pressed to drink each single a kind of bottles on my own) but in addition one that offers me nice pleasure.
It’s by way of this tradition of sharing that I’ve been lucky sufficient to take pleasure in a cornucopia of so-called unicorn bottles that I might by no means in any other case have the chance to strive. It’s additionally by way of this communalism that I’ve been in a position to unlock tales and create recollections with mates new and outdated which have enriched my life immeasurably. Constructing human connections by forging friendships and widening your private aperture on the world is one thing you merely can’t put a worth on.
Our story begins with the acquisition of right now’s overview topic: the 2019 George T. Stagg bourbon from Buffalo Hint’s Vintage Assortment. In a serendipitous sequence of occasions, I shared information of a retailer raffle with a stranger who occurred to win this bottle. In flip, by way of quite a lot of conversations, I found he had an curiosity in just a few bottles in my assortment that I needed to commerce (one other staple of the fanatic neighborhood which permits for entry to in any other case inaccessible bottles). We then organized to fulfill and make an alternate which netted me this magnificence, together with a brand new pal who has since shared a rating of different excellent pours with me.
What occurred subsequent is likely to be a international idea to you, pricey reader, however I then saved this bottle behind my “bunker” and forgot all about it. To be clear, I used to be thrilled so as to add it to my assortment as a result of earlier variations of George T Stagg (such because the 2017 which Taylor beforehand reviewed) are amongst my favourite bourbons of all time.
Nonetheless, with so many different bottles open to take pleasure in I figured I might save Georgie boy for a “big day.” As you might have already got observed, the factor about “particular events” is that they occur all too sometimes. I’ve since come to the idea that daily will be made into a special day in case you repair your disposition to make it so.
Nicely, I made a decision to create my very own event and, as destiny would have it, alternative arrived when a pal instructed me that regardless of 10+ years having fun with whiskey and dealing as a supervisor at one in every of Jersey Metropolis’s best bourbon bars, he had by no means tried George T. Stagg earlier than. The die was forged, and I instructed him that the following time we met I might convey this bottle for him to open and luxuriate in.
When the time got here I let him crack it open (the devilish grin that unfold throughout his face is one thing I’ll always remember) and pour what he wished, even sharing some with a curious close by stranger. All of us agreed then that it was really an distinctive expertise and pour.
However why cease there? Quickly I introduced the bottle to a different pal, after which one other, and one other. Inside per week greater than half the bottle was gone as I poured it for mates, whiskey lovers, strangers, and even a kind of “in-store tasting” of us who had reached the top of his shift and whom I felt deserved a drink after pouring freebies for half-interested prospects all day.
It turned referred to as my “Sharing Stagg,” one thing that I used to be all too keen to interrupt out and provide to anybody lucky sufficient to cross my path whereas I had it in tow. I turned a veritable Johnny Appleseed, planting the seeds of excellent will all over the place I went and taking delight within the tilling of the soil whether or not it produced the fruit of reciprocity or not.
Finally, this Stagg was on its final leg and I assumed there was no higher option to ship it off within the spirit of sharing than to do two issues. The primary being to pour a pattern for the one that initially traded this to me. Absolutely, he deserves to take pleasure in it and expertise among the pleasure our transaction impressed.
The second brilliant thought I had was to jot down this overview, in order that an innumerable quantity of individuals would possibly profit from studying extra about it. I hope in studying these ramblings you acquire a little bit of the pleasure that I had in sharing it with so many others and take this as your cue to pay it ahead, in any case, that’s what that is all about.
Finally, let’s get right down to brass tacks and talk about the related particulars of this extremely sought out expression. The 2019 version of George T. Stagg, like all of them, is barrel power and clocks in on the lowest-ever proof for a George Stagg, 116.9 proof (58.45% ABV). It’s aged for 15 years and 4 months and consists of Buffalo Hint mashbill #1, which is undisclosed however is alleged to be their low-rye recipe. Whereas it’s a restricted version, and thus usually marked up exorbitantly each at retail and on the secondary market, credit score belongs to Buffalo Hint for releasing this expression at a advised retail worth of $99.
George T. Stagg 2019 – Evaluation
Colour: Mahogany with an auburn glint.
On the nostril: A lush cherry cordial aroma instantly fills the room (glass included) together with a wealthy leather-based that makes me consider consuming maraschino cherries on a brand-new Chesterfield couch. Quickly tender cinnamon, caramel, and vanilla ice cream notes float to the floor together with some allspice, the faintest whiff of darkish chocolate truffle powder, oak, and figs. Spending time with this nostril is numerous enjoyable, because it’s densely filled with basic bourbon aromas together with candy dessert-like notes which are proper up the alley of anybody with a penchant for bakery visits and various after-dinner treats. The “low” proof can be very obvious, making it a delight to go to after which revisit with deep inhalations. Lastly, I’ll be aware that the sweetness is on the floor, however simply beneath it the notes of oak and darkish chocolate are joined by turmeric and tomato paste which gives a savory steadiness.
Within the mouth: Vanilla ice cream, maraschino cherries, and as an intriguing twist there’s some purple pepper notes that pop at first style. Caramel, darkish chocolate, clove, and black pepper unfold at midpalate which leads us to the end the place the age is obvious vis a vis an oaky presence that’s barely drying in such a manner that curbs any bitterness that may encroach on our enjoyment. It has a sturdy albeit not notably lengthy end that’s replete with extra of a black cherry taste and a few tasty barrel char. It’s additionally barely effervescent on the end, reminding me of a half-flat Dr. Pepper with out leaning into the cloying sweetness of the soda. All in all, it’s a very scrumptious pour that has a little bit of all the things, together with a contact of rye spice that beckons after sitting with it for some time.
Conclusions:
Within the three years since its launch, this was maligned at occasions for being a departure from the “punch you in your face” expertise that one usually expects with George T. Stagg bourbon. Whereas the 2019 expression definitely turns down the quantity, it nonetheless options the total refrain of flavors that made George T. Stagg one of the vital vaunted expressions in Buffalo Hint’s legendary Vintage Assortment lineup. The cherry-forward taste profile is on full show and gives a luxurious base together with a deft steadiness which actually makes it sing.
I’ve to confess that, regardless of the above, this isn’t my favourite George T. Stagg iteration, however I’d be remiss if I didn’t additionally be aware that everybody I shared this with was stunned by the richness of its taste. With out exception, the generosity of sharing this bottle was nicely obtained and for a lot of (together with a number of of us who drink whiskey professionally) this was amongst their favourite pours of the yr as soon as I shared it with them. All issues thought-about, it’s robust for me to grade this one objectively owing to the expertise I gained in sharing it with so many various folks… however then, what overview is completely goal?
Due to my expertise with numerous George T. Stagg bourbons, I can recognize this one throughout the wider portfolio for being one thing completely different. Judged towards its contemporaries it positively nonetheless holds up as an distinctive expertise. What we’ve got here’s a stunning bourbon, too usually dismissed for its proof level and too usually marked up for its popularity, however an attractive bourbon nonetheless. When grading this in accordance with Malt’s Scoring Bands on the retail worth of $99 I really feel snug awarding 2019’s George T. Stagg a positive rating.
