It took four or five tastings but I . . .

Joined Sep 2003
9K Posts | 0+
Puerto Rico/NYC
finally pigeonholed the new George T. Stagg 2003 bourbon.

You may remember that I said one of the managers at Park Avenue Liquors on (don't ask, don't tell :D ) Madison Avenue in NYC expressed profound disappointment at the 2003 version, since the 2002 version had won Malt Advocate's Whiskey Of The Year.

After my first three tastings I was somewhat confused. There were incredible flavors in there, complexity, boldness, and 142.7 PROOF!!! But something was indeed missing. So, early this morning, prior to going to bed, I finally had the right place and time, the completely right setting to make my final determination as to where this extra fine bourbon places among my favorites.

About an hour ago, I went over to the window sill containing the empty bottles of my elite favorites, the vaunted Bloofingtonian Top Ten, and looked at them almost as if to say . . .

"Bourbon, bourbon, on the wall, where should the Stagg '03 fall?"

It's a hard placement. It was a hard taste test. And here's the deal with the Stagg 2003. Since I like high proof bourbons, this one being by far the strongest on the commercially available market, there's no problem there. And there's no problem with the flavor profile either. Strong flavors of caramel, anchovies and very sweet candy apple. But something incredible happens as you're enjoying the wonderful finish of those flavors and contemplating the richness and complexity of this fine bourbon.

Your palate suddenly goes dry, very dry, almost like drinking shots of Everclear, and all that's left is a hot, dry palate, with the faint taste of lightly salted potatoes and the feeling of heat and dryness that won't go away until the next sip.

But those WONDERFUL flavors!!! So, there's the dilemma. The rather unpleasant finish of the finish, or the end of the aftertaste in other words, but the incredible flavors upon entry and just before the parched feeling sets in. This is a fine bourbon indeed. And as I scanned the bottles representing my current Top Ten, I realized that while I couldn't give it the same high marks of the Stagg 2002, in no way, shape or form was I disappointed in it. So, . . .

The George T. Stagg 2003 version goes in the No. 9 spot, right behind Baker's, still hanging firm at No. 8, and before Knob Creek, which moves down to No. 10, kicking Wild Turkey Russell's Reserve out of the Top Ten.