Buffalo Trace Stagg Jr Batch 19

Realse : Spring 2023
Nose: Big, punchy, funky barrel influence leaps out of the glass with a molasses coated speartip. Leather and linen come together in a sharp, searing nose-feel. Traces of vanilla may want to rise out of the glass, but most evidence of that is tramped down by a stampede of oak. Black pepper, anise and allspice tingle brightly in the nose. Aromas of dusty peanut shells can be found on a dirty stone floor in the background. Tiny hints of lemon peel and angostura bitters can be found on deep inhales. I’m not even close to impressed just yet, but let’s return after diving in for a sip first to make sure I’m not missing some magic here.

Coming back from a sip I find airy vanilla, toffee and sea salt. Soft clay and freshly thawed Spring soil arrive late in the glass. Pretty classic bourbon hang out in the background here, but in very subtle volume levels. Light sea salt and vinegar can be traced out of the volumeless space of air inside my glencairn. The empty glass smells of raisin, light Spring florals and cool air by the oceanside.

Palate: My first sip is sweet and pervasive with strawberry cereal tones. Plenty of proof swings through the mouth and down the chest without too much trouble. Funky oat notes mix with messy fruit incoherently. Heavy malt bumps into tannin-rich flavors one might more expect out of wine. Okay, things are starting to hit stride here as a nice bundle of fruit finally lands gracefully on my taste buds. Strawberry and cherry smoothly slide in 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. The linger is sharp and aggressive with little reward outside of some slightly sweet waxy tones. My last sip is vaguely fruit forward again with raspberry and funky, proofy plum. I think this could do well in an old fashioned, but I’m not quite impressed with my neat sip today, nor the two prior times I tried it.