Stagg 22B Review (Batch 19)
Sipping on a day 2 pour while I work on this Stagg 22B Review (Batch 19)! I would definately recommend that you crack this open, pour a glass, let it sit for 30 minutes, take some initial impressions, and then try a second pour a day or two later. It made a difference for me in the tasting.
Series: Formerly Stagg Jr, now simply Stagg
Classification: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Age: NAS (aged at least 4 years per regulations, but rumored to be 7-9 years old)
Proof: 131
Proof Designation: Barrel Proof
Filtered Status: Non-Chill Filtered
Mash bill: Buffalo Trace Mash #1, undisclosed but speculated to be 82% Corn, 8% Rye, 10% Barley
Distillery: Buffalo Trace
Company: Sazerac Company
Distilled/Aging Location: Frankfort, Kentucky
Release Date: Winter 2022
MSRP: $70 (2023)
Secondary Market: $250 – $550
Availability: Low/Rare
Stagg 22B Review
My tasting reviews are unique in that I include the notes of several well-known whiskey critics. The hope is that this format will help me and others to explore and expand their tasting experience. After you have taken your own tasting notes, read the reviews and see if there is a flavor note that others discerned that now you can detect as well.
Nose
Caramel, figs, apple, rich vanilla.
Other Reviewer’s Perceptions
Mash & Drum: Deep brown sugar, little of grape and cherry, heavy cinnamon, the typical Buffalo Trace sweet oak profile, cherry cola, I’m digging this! Sweet molasses, slight hint of rye spice, sweet caramel.
Amongst the Whiskey: Big, punchy, funky barrel influence with molasses. Leather and linen come together in a sharp, searing nose-feel. Traces of vanilla, a stampede of oak. Black pepper, anise and allspice tingle brightly. Aromas of dusty peanut shells in the background. Tiny hints of lemon peel and angostura bitters can be found on deep inhales. Vanilla, toffee and sea salt.
Bourbon Kingdom: Molasses, grape, brown sugar, fruity, sweet aroma, traditional Stagg, cherry cola.
Palate
Vanilla, white pepper, berry jam (raspberry?), custard, brown sugar, cinnamon, leather, oak. On the fresh crack, this drinks hot to me…the proof slapped me in the face. But on day two (perhaps with more time & oxygen), the proof mellowed and now it drinks below proof. Really love this!
Other Reviewer’s Perceptions
Mash & Drum: This has all those Stagg Jr flavors that you love. Vanilla, caramel, grape, medicinal cherry, cherry cola, little bit of oak, molasses. It drinks very easy and does not drink like a 130 proof.
Amongst th Whiskey: My first sip is sweet and pervasive with strawberry cereal tones. Funky oat notes mix with messy fruit incoherently. Heavy malt bumps into tannin-rich flavors one might more expect out of wine. Strawberry and cherry on a wave of vanilla yogurt. Another sip and swish builds in more classic bourbon fruit with orange peel and cinnamon laced cherry. Overall it’s a little proof-imbalanced, but opening up well with time, air and patience. My last sip is vaguely fruit forward again with raspberry and funky, proofy plum.
Bourbon Kingdom: Vanilla-Dr. Pepper, sweet, honey, brown sugar, grapes, nicely balanced. It doesn’t drink like a 130 proof. We like it a lot.
Finish
Long finish, custard, vanilla, oak.
Other Reviewer’s Perceptions
Mash & Drum: na.
Amongst the Whiskey: The linger is sharp and aggressive with little reward outside of some slightly sweet waxy tones.
Bourbon Kingdom: Not strong, but sweet.
Notes and History
Stagg Jr was first released in the Fall of 2013 and was introduced as Stagg Jr to be a more readily available version of George T. Stagg, which is part of the Antique Collection and is considered to be a “Unicorn” amongst bourbon enthusiasts because it is so hard to find, especially at a decent price. Beginning with Batch 18, Stagg dropped the “Jr” and it will only be called Stagg, but it will continue to be released twice a year.
Perhaps this is name change is because at age 18 it Stagg “Jr” is now an adult? Or perhaps it’s because the only way to determine what release of a Stagg Jr you had was to look up the proof and find the Stagg Jr that had the same proof. Batch 18 was the second Stagg Jr to have a matching proof of an earlier batch, so the old method no longer works. Starting with Stagg 22B (Batch 19), the “Jr” is dropped and a new release designation is created…”22B” which means it is the second release of 2022.
If you found this Stagg 22B review (Batch 19) helpful, forward it to a friend!
You reviews are awesome! And your description of flavors coupled with other reviewers perceptions make these my favorite to read. Keep it uuuuuup!
Thanks! I do find the other people’s reviews helpful. I spend about an hour doing my own notes first, sometimes on two separate days. Then I read other people’s reviews and go back to the pour to see if I can pick out some of the notes they detect, or understand how they interpret a flavor differently than I do.