Tobacco leaf | Charred oak | Leather | Vanilla | Cigar box

Luxardo cherries | Oak | Tobacco leaf | Peppercorn spice

Pop of syrup | Dry oak | Leather | Vanilla powder | Undulating heat | Lingering

The name “Stagg” sends bourbon drinkers into a frenzy when it’s mentioned, with consumers clamoring to get their hand on a bottle of Stagg or George T. Stagg. According to Buffalo Trace, “Old Stagg would become the flagship whiskey brand for the George T. Stagg Distillery at the tail end of Prohibition, taking the place of O.F.C. bourbon. Made to honor George T. Stagg, who owned and operated the distillery in the late 1800s, the brand would be used in several ads and sales materials in the years after Prohibition. Today, the brand lives on as Stagg and George T. Stagg, both barrel proof whiskeys that have their roots in this Prohibition era brand."

‍Old Stagg delivers an expressive sip that highlights earthier notes with just a touch of sweetness. It opens with drier notes of tobacco leaf, charred oak, and a defined cigar box note. The palate pulls forth a Luxardo cherries note which brings a subtle hint of sweetness to the contrasting dry oak and tobacco notes. The sweetness carries over to start the finish, which quickly transitions to dry oak and leather along with a lingering undulating heat that shines a light on the whiskey’s high proof.

The number one question on whiskey drinkers’ minds is how this compares to Stagg and George T. Stagg. While Old Stagg is a whiskey and the other two are bourbons, they share similar traits. All three carry the signature high proof that the Stagg name signifies and earthier expressive notes are also present. I tried a pour of Old Stagg directly next to a pour of 2023 George T. Stagg and found more similarities than not. While this year's George T. Stagg highlighted more raisin notes along with a chewier finish which allows it to edge out Old Stagg, this release will please high-proof whiskey lovers just as much.

Photo by courtesy of Buffalo Trace Distillery.