Distillery: Buffalo Trace
Proof: 130.9
Age: No Age Statement
Mashbill: Undisclosed
Price: $150-$200
Company
Buffalo Trace is arguably the most well-known distillery on the planet. Its lineup includes the likes of Pappy, E.H. Taylor, Blanton’s, Elmer T. Lee, W.L. Weller, and more.
Production
Released biannually, Stagg Jr. is one of the few barrel proof expressions of a Buffalo Trace whiskey you can reasonably find (extreme emphasis on “reasonably – comparing it to BTAC). It’s rumored that the majority of the barrels making up Stagg Jr. are 7-9 years old (but many claim it’s closer to 5-10).
Nose – 96/100
Deep caramel with hints of citrus, vanilla, and brown sugar
Palate – 96/100
An initial blast of heat that settles down into a brown sugar and molasses-centered profile with notes of oak, tannins, and dark chocolate.
Finish – 95/100
The burn is more intense in the finish with notes of rye spice, oak, and lingering brown sugar.
Value – 90/100
I found my bottle for about $150, which is 3x the ~$50 MSRP. This bottle, along with many other Buffalo Trace brands, keeps rising in price and scarcity during the bourbon boom.
While I’m not a huge fan of paying that much, this was one of the best bourbons I’ve had to date. I would happily pay $100 for another bottle. It’s sweet and hot, but not as hot as the high proof would lead you to believe.
Verdict – 94.25/100
We score each bourbon based on nose, palate, finish, and value.
Scoring System:
- Platinum – 95+
- Gold – 90 – 94
- Silver – 80 – 89
- Bronze – <80
Hunter Branch is the Founder and Director of Editorial for Bourbon Inspector. He has been writing about and professionally reviewing bourbon since 2020 (and has been drinking it for much longer). He’s been able to interview big names in the bourbon industry like Trey Zoeller from Jefferson’s Bourbon and his work has been featured in publications like TastingTable, Mashed, and more.