George T Stagg Straight Bourbon 2022 Review & Price Guide
Last Updated on October 25, 2023 by Lydia Martin
Since its release, the limited George T. Stagg bourbon has intrigued whiskey fanatics. And we get why you’re eager to know more about this spirit.
We conducted this George T. Stagg Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey review, so you’ll know what to expect about its flavor profile, character, and price.
If you’re looking for a quick review before buying one, keep reading.
About George T. Stagg Straight Bourbon
George T. Stagg is included in the new Buffalo Trace Antique Collection, along with the following:
- Sazerac 18-Year Old
- William Larue Weller Bourbon
- Eagle Rare 17-Year Old
- Thomas H. Handy Sazerac Rye Whiskey
This limited edition is over 15 years old, with a retail price of $99 per 750ml bottle (SRP).
If you love the younger Stagg, Jr., you’ll surely like this more mature one, especially if you’re into high-proof whiskies.
Quick Stats
| Distillery | Buffalo Trace Distillery |
| Bourbon Type | Straight Bourbon |
| Barrel Proof | 138.7 proof |
| Release Date | October 2022 |
| Mash Bill | Corn, Rye, and Malted Barley |
| Age | 15 years and 5 months old |
| Average Price | $99/750ml (MSRP) |
History & Origin
In the 19th century, George T. Stagg built the most reputable distillery in the US– the Buffalo Trace Distillery today [1].
As one of the best bourbons, it has been popular for its uncut and unfiltered whiskey bottles— aged for a significant period.
That’s how good bourbons from this brand began to impress whiskey lovers until now, made by Buffalo Trace, which the Sazerac Company now owns.
How It’s Made
Stagg is fermented in a Carbon steel and black iron fermenter, following the sour mash process.
Then, it’s double-distilled in a beer still and doubler and aged in new charred white oak barrels.
“I was brought up to believe that Scotch whisky would need a tax preference to survive in competition with Kentucky bourbon.”
— Hugo Black, Former US Senator
After 15 years and 5 months, it’s bottled at 138.7-proof. It has a rich flavor profile that surprised us (actually) due to its balance and subtle sweet hints.
Mash Bill
The recipe is made up of the following:
- Corn (locally grown in Kentucky) – the largest percentage of the mash
- Rye (sourced from Minnesota) – the secondary grain
- Malted barley (from North Dakota) – the finishing grain
Note: The corn used has distillers grade of #1 and #2.
The percentage per mash isn’t undisclosed, but we can safely assume that it contains at least 51% corn, based on the bourbon requirement.
Tasting Notes
Palate
Very approachable, given its proof. The palate gives notes of amaretto, nutmeg, fruit, cherry, and vanilla at first taste, followed by the rich oak sweetness, baking spice, and caramel.
Nose
Mixed aromas and layers of brown sugar, cognac, rum, and stewed apples and cherries. It has a distinct nose from the previous release.
Color
Dark Chestnut
Finish
Strong and spicy with oak, dark chocolate, cinnamon, molasses, and leather flavors. It has a bit of heat but is a fine drink.
Common George T. Stagg Straight Bourbon 2022 Price
As mentioned earlier, the manufacturer SRP is $99/750ml but may vary per store. It’s a great deal of whiskey— reasonably priced, unique, and, most of all, satisfying.
| Type | Size | Alcohol Content | Average Price |
| George T. Stagg Straight Bourbon 2022 | 750ml | 138.7 proof | $99 |
The secondary market price of Stagg is going higher, doubling its price up to more or less $1000, depending on the store.
Compared to Other Bourbons
Weller Antique 107
Stagg and Weller are both parts of the Buffalo Trace Antique Collection [2]. Weller Antique is a high-proof spirit (107), but GTS still has more alcohol content.
Although Weller is more affordable at $50 (MSRP), Stagg is more mature and is aged well.
Evan Williams Bottled-in-Bond
Evan Williams BiB (from Heaven Hill) is also high-proof (100), but it can’t beat the spirit of GTS.
We prefer the more mature age of GTS than the younger age of Evan Williams (around 4 years old).
However, Evan Williams might appeal to you if you’re looking for low-priced spirits.
Buffalo Trace Bourbon
From the same distillery, Buffalo Trace Bourbon has similar notes to GTS.
As soon as we tasted Stagg, we remembered BT bourbon– the rye spice, cinnamon, vanilla, chocolate, and hints of sweet caramel, were there.
However, BT is lower in proof compared to GTS. But BT is a good alternative to GTS (if you don’t mind the reduction in alcohol content).
Tip: If you’re looking for alternatives, we recommend Elijah Craig Barrel Proof (small batch C919), Knob Creek 12, EH Taylor Barrel Proof, and Wild Turkey Rare Breed.
FAQs
Is George T. Stagg rare?
George T. Stagg is getting rare these days. It’s sold in limited quantities, and you’ll find it hard to buy a bottle of this new release.
How often is George T. Stagg released?
George T. Stagg is released yearly. However, they haven’t released a new expression in the past two years until October 2022.
What does George T. Stagg taste like?
George T. Stagg tastes nutty with a sweet note of vanilla and caramel. It’s close to the profile of Buffalo Trace Bourbon but with more spiciness and heat.
In Conclusion
After our review, we conclude George T. Stagg is a sought-after spirit– it’s worthy of the hype, and most importantly, it’s a great value for money.
It’s the best Stagg expression so far. It’s a great buy, so don’t think twice and start finding a bottle now before it sells out.
References:
- https://explorekyhistory.ky.gov/items/show/512?tour=39&index=8
- https://www.kentucky.com/lexgoeat/bourbon/article267797902.html
