Fall '05 Stagg - First Impressions
Posted: Thu Nov 17, 2005 12:47 pmI picked up the new Fall '05 Stagg today. I waited (barely) until I got home to have a taste. Here are my first impressions:
Nose is very dry but otherwise very typical of bourbon (unlike the Spring '05 offering which was more cognac-like in aroma). Scent of dried, burnt fruit; bitter orange predominating.
Pallette is also very dry... licorice, anise, and black pepper. Slight taste of over-ripe fruit.
Finish is very powerful and hot (although not as hot as one might expect given the high proof). Also remarkably short; not much to distinguish here.
Adding a touch of spring water softened the "bigness" and definitely brings out some of the nuances.
Overal, my sense is of a very good whiskey but not up to the (very high) bar set by previous Staggs. These are merely first thoughts... a whiskey this intense and complex deserves and requires more carefull tasting and side-by-side comparisons with previous offerings.
Nose is very dry but otherwise very typical of bourbon (unlike the Spring '05 offering which was more cognac-like in aroma). Scent of dried, burnt fruit; bitter orange predominating.
Pallette is also very dry... licorice, anise, and black pepper. Slight taste of over-ripe fruit.
Finish is very powerful and hot (although not as hot as one might expect given the high proof). Also remarkably short; not much to distinguish here.
Adding a touch of spring water softened the "bigness" and definitely brings out some of the nuances.
Overal, my sense is of a very good whiskey but not up to the (very high) bar set by previous Staggs. These are merely first thoughts... a whiskey this intense and complex deserves and requires more carefull tasting and side-by-side comparisons with previous offerings.