Stagg Jr. Batch 11 Last Drop Review
Last Drop Review
A review designed to explore how a bottle changes over the time it’s opened.
Age: Non-Age Stated but reportedly around 9 years
ABV: 63.95%
Cask: New charred oak cask
MSRP: $55
Distillery Name: Buffalo Trace
Open for: 1.5 Years
Opinion Through the Bottle: I was so excited when I found this bottle that I told myself I had to wait for a special occasion to open it. Once I did, I was met with a high-proof flavor bomb that initially knocked me off my feet. It was too powerful and too flavorful for me to actually understand what I was drinking. I couldn’t get beyond how damn hot it was. The magic had clearly gone over my head. So I left it alone for quite a few months as I tried other bottles and refined my palate further.
When I returned to this bottle, I found that I could discern more flavors and enjoy it a lot more. It had mellowed out and was more approachable than it’d been on that first pour. That could have been a combination of me learning more, me getting more acquainted with whisky, oxidation working its magic, or a combination of all three.
Regardless, I was hooked.
It provided that uncut and unfiltered bourbon experience that seemed to be a standout on my shelf and as the bottle waned, I found myself reaching for it more and sharing it more with family and friends. In the last third of the bottle, I noticed more sweetness and less oak than at the beginning. It also still felt toasty, without being overly burning.
Over the time I had this bottle, I went from not understanding what the hype was about, to becoming a firm believer in the uncut bourbon experience. This is the bottle that primarily got me there. With a few Elijah Craig Barrel Proofs thrown in for good measure.
Score: 92
Will I restock this? Absolutely. My appreciation for this whisky has only grown as I’ve worked through this bottle. In a world where similar quality whiskies are regularly over $100, this is still a fantastic bargain. And as its bigger brother George T Stagg has gotten even more difficult to find out in the wild, this tends to come close to providing a lot of that Stagg experience at a much friendly price.
If I found this anywhere near $60 it’s an instant buy for me. I would even stretch to around $90 depending on the situation because it really is that good. And finding this around retail is still a more exciting experience than finding Elijah Craig Barrel Proof at retail. Maybe it’s the hype around Buffalo Trace. Maybe it’s the fact that this is like BTAC lite. Whatever it is, I luckily have 2 batch 12’s in my cabinet for when I want to jump into another Stagg bottle.
