| #361 Geroge T Stagg 2005 130.9 Proof Straight Bourbon American | |||||||||||||||||||||
| This cost is what I found the likely shelf price for a 750ml bottle to be, based on an average of costs throughout the USA. Your price may differ significantly. This is not an advertisement of sale, this bottle is likely empty by now anyway Cost | $7500 |  | |||||||||||||||||||
| 91 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| The whisky's score as weighed against the cost of a bottle. Adj. Score | 99 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Limited Avail. | Currently produced but limited availability | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ABV | 65% | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Awards |  | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Tasting # 393: Gunpowder in a bottle. (23-SEP-2009) | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Notes | And so, the legendary George T. Stagg appears on PW! These monsters are the current kings of the small-batch, top shelf bourbon world. If you can find them. And then stomach their ungodly ABV. I thought I just might be man enough to take this one on. Wait, 66% ABV?! | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 1st Impression | My biggest gripe is that you can't tell the '04 from the '05, so you kind of have to go by ABV. Good thing they're all unique so far. | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Smell | It smells exactly like you'd expect from a full go. I'm not even going to write down the word I scribbled in my notes. This is a family show. Well, sort of. Anyway, with some water you get very dark molasses, bacon, diced chilies and grilled-black beef tenderloin. If you've ever grilled beef and the fat starts to char, that's the smell. Ye gods, what's in this? | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Taste | So at 65% it's too tight and sharp to taste, moving on to water you have to play and sip a bit and wow, does this thing open up worlds. Caramelized vidalia onions, more of that great beef flavor (still charred, maybe not quite to a cinder) toasted rye bread and raisins build to an almighty top. Lots of corn and corn syrup here, held up by a nice woody base. Apple pie crust shows up in the char and smoke of the fade and then you're just drifting through a campfire finish. Amazing, if a bit fiddly and fussy in the water department. Try not to burn out your taste buds. Wonderful and huge: 91. | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Tasting Score | 91 | ||||||||||||||||||||
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