Bourbon Review · Buffalo Trace Antique Collection
George T. Stagg
Uncut, Unfiltered Kentucky Straight Bourbon — Annual Release
The Story
George T. Stagg is the bottle that started the whole barrel-proof-bourbon-as-blood-sport thing. Released once a year in the fall, aged 15+ years, bottled straight from the barrel with nothing cut out — no filtering, no watering down, no apologies. The proof jumps around year to year, sometimes north of 140, and getting a bottle at retail takes some combination of luck and knowing somebody. It's named after the guy who actually built the Buffalo Trace distillery, which feels about right for something this intense.
Nose, Palate & Finish
Nose
Strong stuff, obviously, but not as punishing as the proof number suggests — sweet, dark, a little smoky, with real heat sitting right underneath. You know exactly what you're about to drink before you even take a sip.
Palate
Big. Dense, heavy, and a lot to take in at full proof — sweetness, oak, and serious heat all fighting for attention. This is not a sipping-while-you-multitask bourbon.
Finish
Exceptionally long. The warmth just sits there for minutes after you swallow. Come back to the glass twenty minutes later and you'll still taste it.