Stagg 23B Review
The Fall batch of Stagg is here! This is batch 22 which is officially labeled as batch 23B. I love the new labeling system (23A, 23B, etc.) that makes it easy to know which batch a Stagg is, and makes it much easier to determine if you have a Stagg that you see in the store. Batch 23B hits the proof scale at 127.8 proof. If you are fortunate enough to have it on your shelf, grab a pour and work through this Stagg 23B review with me.
Comparing Batch 23B to 23A, and 22B, I find that my personal preference is 22B, then 23A, and lastly 23B. But, keep in mind that I love all of these and would buy a back-up if available! So the difference is in tenths of a point on my personal grading scale, which favors sweet over dry/spicy. You can’t go wrong sipping any of these!
Batch 22B has a nice sweetness, mild spice, caramel, vanilla, sweet mellow finish. On second sip, it’s sweet up front, drier on the mid palate, semi-sweet finish. Longer finish than 23A.
Batch 23A is slightly less sweet than 22B, has more dark notes (pleasant), little spicier finish but still sweet. It has a little more spice than 22B, but less than 23B.
Batch 23B is spicier, with caramel, toffee laced with/ spice. And it has a shorter finish.
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: 127.8
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: Fall 2023
MSRP: $70 (2023)
Secondary Market: $150 – $450
Availability: Low/Rare
Stagg 23B 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
Toffee, caramel, vanilla, sweet oak, fig, orange zest, cherry.
Other Reviewer’s Perceptions
Miner Stuff: So good! Fantastic nose. Caramel, vanilla, sweet, stone fruit, cherries. Less ethanol than expected.
Whiskey Raiders: Not rated yet
Whiskey Jar Blog: Not rated yet
Palate
Caramel, toffee, baking spices, clove, cinnamon, vanilla, anise, cherry cola, chocolate, leather, dark fruit, toasted hazelnuts, old oak. It has a nice viscosity.
Other Reviewer’s Perceptions
Miner Stuff: A little more spice than expected, super drinkable, candied cherry, caramel, seasoned oak, brown sugar, very low alcohol burn. We like it better than 22A.
Whiskey Raiders: Not rated yet
Whiskey Jar Blog: Not rated yet
Finish
Long finish, caramel, baking spices, cinnamon, luxardo cherries, barrel char.
Other Reviewer’s Perceptions
Miner Stuff: Moderately short finish with sweet notes.
Whiskey Raiders: Not rated yet
Whiskey Jar Blog: Not rated yet
The Burn
5 out of 5. This means that the burn from the alcohol is quite a bit lower (10% to 20%) than what I would expect it to be. I would guess this to be around 110 proof, not 127.8 proof.
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 its “father” 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 an affordable price. Beginning with Batch 18 in the winter of 2022, Stagg dropped the “Jr” and it will now simply be called Stagg.
My Tasting Notes
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