Stagg Jr. batches continue to roll in from Buffalo Trace Distillery, with the summer 2024 release coming in under the batch "24A" moniker. This younger, bolder version of George T. Stagg is where the brand highlights some of their punchiest profiles. For a historical deep dive on all things Stagg, I'd urge you to check out my Stagg Hub article, where you'll find all the whiskey nerd details your heart could ever desire.
As a self-proclaimed Stagg man, I can't help but slowly turn into a Stagg skeptic as batch after batch continues to leave me rather unimpressed these days. Gone are the magical moments of batch 12. But why? Is this brand getting lazy and just riding the coattails of prior successes? Are the stocks that are being selected from getting younger? Has the blending team simply lost their touch? I hope to answer these questions and more with a full review of the latest batch, Stagg—junior, you'll never stop me—24A. Stick through to the end, and you'll find my video review where I compare this batch to the legendary batch 12 of old as well. On to the notes!
Company on Label: Buffalo Trace Distillery
Whiskey Type: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Mash Bill Percentages: Undisclosed low rye mash bill (estimated <10%)
Proof: 127.6°
Age: NAS (~8 years)
Further identification: This is the first release of Stagg in 2024 (hence the 24A on the label) that was first made available in the summer at an MSRP of $70
Nose: Big, earthy barrel funk leads the way as my nose dives towards the rim of the glass. Dry pear, apricot, and peach can be found on deep pulls from the potent pool of liquid. Pound cake, boozy strawberry daiquiri, black pepper, and a strong wall of ethanol make this hard to get into right away. After a bit of rest, nutmeg, confectioners' sugar, peach rings, brown sugar, and potent oak swirl into the nostrils. As the glass finds its balance, notes of creamed corn bubble up. I am reminded of the nostalgic smell of a warm sweatshirt pulled on during a summer night suddenly turned slightly chilly with the arrival of a land breeze. A well-rested glass smells of a woodshop running at capacity; there are troves and troves of mature, funky oak on this nose, suggesting this release has a decently high average age. The barrel funk cannot be understated here, as it really feels like the defining character of the glass. Time for a sip!
Coming back from a few sips reveals a nose flattened by a rolling pin into a thin sheet of pie crust. Black pepper and bright ethanol become prevalent on long inhales. Creamy vanilla tones hang on late in the glass. Flashes of men's deodorant, a freshly lit match, and goldenrod fill the nose with intrigue and wonder. The empty glass smells of caramel chews and a rocky pathway through the woods.
Palate: Wow, this is a wickedly off-profile Stagg batch. It leads with this low, brooding, rumbling, dark profile of mustard seed, patchouli, and charcoal. Another sip and swish reveals more traditional tones of caramel, molasses, and brown sugar. The mouthfeel is on the thicker side with a tingly linger that doesn't get too poppy or effervescent. It sits on the tongue like a pad of room-temperature butter. Sipping further produces a distant, vague sweetness that lands somewhere in between an ice cream shop and a candy store. The tingly linger dances the most excitedly up in the gums as Arcor strawberry bon bons meet sour patch watermelon candy and coconut ice cream. The heat of this pour is quite apparent if you don't sip it carefully. My last taste is buttery and bold with black tea, camphor, and coffee cake. The finish is short to medium, but incredibly comfortable and enjoyable as a caramel drizzle layers over a crunchy salted pretzel rod.
TL;DR: An oddly tame batch that falls somewhere in the middle of the Stagg quality scale
Rating: 3.5/5
Is Stagg beginning to lose its way? The last standout batches I can recall off the top of my head were batch 17 and batch 18, released in 2021 and 2022, respectively. I'll give some brownie points to 23A, but that may only have been because of the proximity to the absolute duds that were 23B and 23C. If you're interested in how all the batches shake out, make sure to bookmark the Stagg Hub—an article I keep updated regularly as new Stagg Jr. batches come out. As for this one? Pretty middle of the road, if you ask me. Let's hope we can get back to quality releases from the team here soon.
Bonus Comparison: Batch 12 vs Batch 24A
