Stagg Junior, the younger, bolder, less refined version of George T. Stagg, is back once again in the limelight. As a dedicated self-proclaimed Stagg man, I've got my work cut out for me keeping the Stagg Hub updated, but the winter 2024 releases have since been documented. The batch under review today is coming in under the "24B" naming convention, something that has continued since Buffalo Trace Distillery decided to do their own batch numbering rather than leaving it up to whiskey enthusiasts to do the proof and laser code deciphering. Buffalo Trace has also recently moved to a three-times-per-year bottling cadence for this label, something I think has unfortunately hurt their ability to put out consistently great batches. Perhaps this decision is to compete with the likes of Booker's (4x a year) or Elijah Craig Barrel Proof (3x a year). Due to the logistical nightmare that is procuring these bottles around Christmas time, I ended up reviewing the 24C batch before I got my own bottle of 24B. I'll let that review of 24C speak for itself.
Since we likely have a good while until the 2025 bottlings start hitting shelves, we've got plenty of time to slow sip our way through the latest batches and find out if they're going to end up being either a stud or a dud. If recent batches are any indication of a trend, I'd say we're in for a bit of trouble, but I'm also hopeful, as I know the team at Buffalo Trace is capable of greatness. Just look at the rating I gave this year's George T. Stagg. I even warned folks that their bourbon might just steal your girl. What do you think? Will 24B be a return to form for Stagg Jr? Take a moment, think back to your last Stagg experience, then read through the notes ahead to find out for sure! As always, I've tasted this a minimum of three times before offering my full review.
Company on Label:Â Buffalo Trace Distillery
Whiskey Type: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Mash Bill Percentages:Â Undisclosed Buffalo Trace mash bill #1 (high corn, low rye, malted barley)
Proof: 127.8°
Age:Â NAS (rumored to be around ~8 years old)
MSRP:Â $70
Further identification:Â The second release of Stagg Jr for the 2024 calendar year is batch 24B, released seemingly concurrent with batch 24C
Nose:Â Upon first lifting the glass to my nose, I find deep barrel funk, newspaper, and hard cherry cough drops. It's quite dry in the nose as I cough up some proof aversion. A warming swirl of the glass opens up to a more refreshing candor: strawberry rhubarb pie, black pepper, allspice, and a wave of brown sugar. This feels like a fairly traditional batch of Stagg Jr, with notes that are something between batch 14 and batch 15, but with a lesser inherent quality than either of them. Cherry, strawberry, cinnamon, and dry barrel funk are the most dominant aromas.
After a sip, the nose presents even more funky, like a bag of cool ranch Doritos. The sour buttermilk quality quickly passes, leaving just the cornchip behind. A quick devolution results in a flat candied vanilla note remaining in the glass. Late in the experience, I begin to kick up some of those sugary-sweet tones that Buffalo Trace is known for—think Fun Dip sugar, but backdropped by something oddly savory, like barbecue sauce-coated chicken wings. If you're here for perfection, this isn't it, but I also wouldn't call this really flawed in any way. It's just well-made whiskey producing average notes. The empty glass smells of deviled eggs, nutmeg, and damp oak bark near a muddy ground.
Palate:Â My first taste is surprisingly flavorful given how dry the nose was presenting. Cherry cordial, cinnamon hots, and graham cracker lead the way before a warm Kentucky hug sweeps through the chest. Another sip leans in on the strawberry tones, like a glass of strawberry milk made with a little too much of the Hershey's strawberry syrup. A long sip and swish reveals raspberry tones in spades, candied sweet, as is tradition with Buffalo Trace distillate. While nothing really stands out as exceptional to my palate, there is a nuance of complexity to this pour, something that certainly puts it above some of the more one-noted, hot-mess batches of old. Sipping late in the glass is an enjoyable and comfortable ride, something I might find myself nodding off to personally. My last sip offers more strawberry sweetness and a light ganache undertone. The finish is medium to short at times, carrying raspberry and apple tart odds and ends.
TL;DR: A return to traditional Stagg Jr notes, delivered at a fairly average quality level
Rating:Â 3/5
This is a Stagg Jr batch for folks who aren't picky about their Stagg Jr batches. Middle of the road quality may be fine for most home sippers, but I'd be remiss if I would pretend to tout it as their best work. Given my affinity for finding true quality and an unwavering dedication to honesty, I'll have to stick with the principles set out in my editorial policy and fairly rate this one right in the middle of my quality scale. 3/5 whiskeys are certainly passable and usually quite drinkable to most enthusiasts, but I'd prefer to see Stagg Jr in a much grander return to form than this.
For 2024, I ultimately have to give the nod to the 24A release, despite only scoring marginally higher than this bottle. 24B will slide into my 11th place spot on the Stagg Hub at the time of writing, and I'll keep sharing this decent value, barrel proof bourbon with folks who will likely enjoy it more than me.
