Blackstrap molasses | Dark honey | Barrel char | Raisin | Well-integrated aged scents

Barrel char | Raisin | Graham cracker | Baking spices | Brown sugar | Aged oak

Dry barrel char | Rye spice | Dark fruits | Light leather | Lingering spice | Chewy finish

The Stagg name in bourbon means different things to different people. Some people automatically assume it means George T. Stagg bourbon, while others now think of the former Stagg Jr line, which has now been shortened to just Stagg. No matter what bottle comes to mind, the same concept applies, a high-proof bourbon from Buffalo Trace that is more often than not a fan favorite.

The last two releases of George T. Stagg came in at very similar ages, with 2020’s release sporting a 15 year, 4 month age and the 2022 release sporting a 15 year, 5 month age. While 2021 sadly saw no release for the brand, this year's release continues the trend by coming in at 15 years and 3 months. This has proven to be a sweet spot in regards to an age target for the brand. Falling in the middle between these past two releases proof-wise, all the ingredients line up for a repeat showing of those two great releases.

A high proof, high aged bourbon can be tricky to pull off well, however, the 2023 release sticks the landing from start to finish. The sip opens with well integrated aged scents that are amazingly kept in check considering the bourbon’s high proof. Deep scents of blackstrap molasses and dark honey waft out, with a distinct scent of raisin shining through. The midpoint carries through these aged notes with that same raisin note leading the charge of classic flavors that make you remember why George T. Stagg gets praised more often than not. Ending on notes of dark fruits, barrel char, and rye spice among others, the bourbon ends with a chewy finish that nicely caps off the sip.

More times than not, when something isn’t broken, there’s truly no need to fix it. The 2023 release of George T. Stagg embraces this motto to a T (no pun intended). Yes, this is a high proof bourbon that reminds you of this fact throughout the sip, however, it never pushes its proof so hard that it makes you want to not go back for more. It stands out as this year's king of the BTAC pack, not by head and shoulders, but instead ever so slightly compared to the other four bottles in the collection. People often complain that these bottles are impossible to find at or near MSRP, and I don’t dispute this fact. However, more often than not you can seek out a special pour at a higher end whiskey bar, and with that in mind, if you can only try one pour from the Antique Collection this year, a pour of this year’s George T. Stagg is well worth your hard earned money.