Review #733 - Stagg Jr Batch 4 (2015)
The barrel proof Stagg bourbon from Buffalo Trace no longer carries the 'Jr' part of the name; this change was made with the 2022 releases, starting with Batch 19. Here we have one of the older 'Jr' batches, specifically Batch 4, which arrived in the Spring of 2015; it was bottled at a strength of 66.1% ABV (132.2 proof).
Like the current iterations of Stagg, the mashbill and age here are not disclosed; we do know that this is made with Buffalo Trace's mashbill #1, which is their lower-rye bourbon mashbill.
Stagg Jr Batch 4 (2015)
USA - Bourbon
MSRP: USD 50 (2015)
Available Price: USD 310 (2025, based on recent auction results)
Age Statement: NAS
Strength: 66.1% ABV
Details: Not chill filtered; batch 4, bottled 2015
Tasting Methodology: Reviewed 1 time; bottle at 80% fill level at time of review. Tasted in a nosing glass, rested 15+ minutes
Nose: Dark fruits like cherry, plum, maybe a bit of raspberry; then oak spices builds, bringing leather along with it. It leans slightly sweet overall, though, and we get some bruleed sugar.
Palate: The mouthfeel is thick; this is punchy, a bit hot, but there's tons of flavor: cranberry and strawberry start a red fruit side. Both sweet and tart, and we get some spices from cinnamon and anise, as well as a bit of a leathery side to the oak.
Finish: Red fruits like strawberry and a bit of red grape continue, and there's more sweetness from vanilla. While oak was strong on the palate, it mellows out now; this is still quite warm from the strength. This finish is medium-long.
Final Note: This is a very good bourbon, full of those classic Buffalo Trace notes of red fruit and strong oak. The strength does show through, adding quite a kick to the palate especially, and that warmth lingers for quite a while; texture is good, though, and the flavors are delivered with plenty of intensity. There's a nice balance between sweet and spicy flavor - good balance overall.
At its original MSRP, value here would be absolutely amazing; these days, this batch seems to go for $300+ on the secondary market, which makes the value less appealing. It is a great bourbon, but there are others that provide more interesting flavor at this sort of price point.
Our Rating: 8.0 / 10
In the current whisky landscape of increasing prices and variable quality, we've added a value rating to our reviews that relates to the score and the available pricing of each whisky. This roughly equates to a 0-10 scale; no reviews so far have exceeded a score of 10, although it is technically possible for the formula to produce a value rating higher than 10 with a high enough score and low enough price.
Value Rating (MSRP): 8.69
Value Rating (Available Price): 4.73
About Us: We're a husband and wife review team living in the Midwest United States. Generally, our reviews and tasting notes will be a compilation of both of our experiences with a whisky over several tasting sessions.
