Stagg Jr Batch 24B Review
It is Fall of 2024 and time for a Stagg Jr Batch 24B review! Yes, I know the “Jr” was dropped at batch 18, but it still helps to designate that it is Stagg Jr and not George T. Stagg. Plus, I’m just fond of Jr. So, Batch 24B is the 25th batch of Stagg Jr to be released, with it’s first introduction to the world being in Fall of 2013. This batch clocks in at 127.8 proof, which is on the lower end of most batches. In fact, there are only 4 batches that are either equal to or lower than this one. Proofs have varied between 126.4 (Batch 10) and 134.4 (Batch 1).
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: Autumn, 2024
MSRP: $70 (2024)
Secondary Market: $150 – $300
Availability: Low/Rare – Hard to Find
Stagg Jr Batch 24B 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.
For this tasting: Opened Bottle (about 1 week), Glencairn Glass, Neat, Room Temp, Breathe: 5 minutes.
Legs
The beads on the crown began to form at about 12 seconds, the first legs began to form at about 39 seconds (that’s a long time!), and it took forever for the first legs to reach the bowl…I stopped counting at 90 seconds! The legs kept slowly bleeding together before finally starting to fall.
Nose
What a complex nose! Notes of cherry, fig, cherry cola, caramel, vanilla, crème brûlée, brandy-soaked baked apple, sweet oak, leather, and (a new note for me) a hint of strawberry.
After reading other reviews, some said they could smell strawberry. For some reason berry notes have been difficult for me to discern, but after hearing this I definitely was able to identify a previously unidentified note in this bourbon. Taking your own notes, then reading other people’s notes and going back to the pour is always a great way to expand your tasting repertoire! It’s more like a brandied strawberry.
Other Reviewer’s Perceptions
Drums & Drams: A very sweet, very balanced version of Stagg. A watermelon Jolly Rancher note right off the bat (which I don’t like). But after that fades, a sweet vanilla note, a toasty breadiness like a toasted cornbread. Dark fruit notes, dark cherry, that Buffalo Trace grapiness, dark berry kind of notes. A strong Coca Cola note.
Bourbon Forage Fishing: It smells incredible, rich, toffee, sour cherry Buffalo Trace style, very candy, rich candy. Rich, deep notes like figgy raisin, cherry, brown sugar, dark honey, dark fruits.
Women of Whiskeys: The nose is strong, it really comes at you. Burnt sugar, red pepper, lots of oak and caramel, and some spice.
Palate
Such a complex palate! Cherry syrup, caramel, cherry soda, vanilla, mild savory baking spices (cinnamon, black pepper), leather, sweet oak, hint of cocoa, some coffee, the pastry of an apple pie, and maybe red licorice?
Other Reviewer’s Perceptions
Drums & Drams: This is a fantastic palate experience for Stagg 24B. It has a slow and steady crescendo of spice and flavor throughout the sip. A torched crème brûlée type note. Very sugary-sweet, vanilla extract. That is followed by the Coca Cola note as the sip develops. Then on the mid-palate, all of the dark fruit sweetness takes over.
Bourbon Forage Fishing: Cherry candy, cherry cola, brown sugar, toffee. It’s very good. A depth of fruitiness. It is way better than Stagg 24A.
Women of Whiskeys: The palate is not so aggressive like the nose. It’s very mellow. I definitely get that Buffalo Trace cherry cola effervescence. I definitely get dark fruit and almost a melted butter kind of flavor. It is very layered and they all blend together until you get to the finish and then it just pops out like a whole separate layer.
Finish
Long, viscous finish! Semi-sweet with a mild spiciness. Cherry, caramel, oak, coffee, mild pepper, cherry soda, and a hint of cocoa.
Other Reviewer’s Perceptions
Drums & Drams: A very long finish with a lot of brown sugar, sweet oak, and that toasty cornbread note.
Bourbon Forage Fishing: The finish is so nice, soft, and rounded.
Women of Whiskeys: The finish pops and then just hangs out for a while. The finish is beautiful, it blows your mind and then just keeps going. It’s phenomenal.
Mouthfeel
The mouthfeel is luxurious, full and rich. It coats the tongue, lingers, and causes you to salivate heavily like you are about to eat the best meal of your entire life!
Mouthfeel Rating Guide: Thin = Watery | Silken = smooth & slippery, but not mouth coating | Creamy = coats the tongue like heavy cream does. | Rich or Unctuous = coats the entire palate like quality olive oil
The Burn
4 out of 5. This means that the burn from the alcohol is a bit lower (5% to 9%) than what I would expect it to be. I would guess this to be around 120 proof, not 127.8 proof.
Tasting Summary
There is a lot of fruit, a good amount of sweetness, some appropriate bitterness & dryness from the barrel that balances the sweetness, adding complexity and intrigue, like something akin to bittersweet chocolate…sweet and mildly astringent but still very pleasant.
The sweetness, dryness, and tannins are intricately weaved together, adding complexity, depth, balance, and an overall fabulous sipping experience. This, along with batch B22, is one of my favorite recent Stagg Jr’s.
My Rating
The higher the score the better the whiskey is in my opinion. For reference, my best rated bottle so far is the George T. Stagg 2022 (138.7p) with a score of 9.7.
| Score Type | Score | Examples |
| Likability Score | 8.9 | 1.0 – 10.0 |
| Availability Score | 2 | 1-Rare, 2-Hard to Find, 3-A Little Hunting, 4-Easy to Find |
My Tasting Notes
A blank version of this tasting notes wheel is available in both a color and a black & white version in the member’s area.
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