When I was a casual bourbon drinker I knew Pappy Van Winkle, Maker’s Mark and Elijah Craig but I knew nothing about George T Stagg. The more I learned about bourbon, the more I realized one of the best and unique offerings on the market is George T Stagg, and I really wanted to try it. In today’s market, age statements are few and far between and especially 15 year age statements. George T Stagg is one of the most important and influential people in bourbon history.
Stagg purchased OFC Distillery (Old Fashioned Copper Distillery) in 1878 from Colonel E H Taylor. In 1904 the name was changed to George T Stagg Distillery and today is known as Buffalo Trace Distillery! During prohibition, George T Stagg Distillery was granted a federal medicinal permit and was one of the few operational distilleries during that time period.
What is the George T Stagg mashbill?
George T Stagg bourbon is made with the Buffalo Trace Mashbill #1 (~10% rye), which is their low rye grain recipe. Other bourbons made with Mashbill #1 are Buffalo Trace, Eagle Rare 10 Year, Stagg (formerly Stagg Jr) and a large majority of the E H Taylor lineup. Buffalo Trace has not released the exact percentages of their mashbills but the 10% rye amount is an educated guess.
Is George T Stagg bourbon hard to find?
George T Stagg is distilled and aged at Buffalo Trace Distillery in Frankfort Kentucky. Buffalo Trace is most known for Pappy Van Winkle bourbon and some of their other premium offerings like George T Stagg, Thomas H Handy and William LaRue Weller get lost in the Pappy hysteria. George T Stagg is one of the only offerings available to bourbon consumers that offers a 15 year plus age statement that is also barrel proof (normally above 130 proof).
As beloved as Four Roses, Maker’s Mark and Wild Turkey are, none of these distilleries offer a regular release of 15 year, barrel proof bourbon. Heaven Hill does have some ultra aged barrel proof products but they have not been annual releases. I would also note that Heaven Hill’s flavor profile isn’t nearly as fruit forward as Buffalo Trace’s, one of the many reasons Buffalo Trace bourbons are so highly regarded. Brown Forman, which owns Jack Daniels, Old Forester and Woodford Reserve, offers the only true competitor in my opinion to George T Stagg, King of Kentucky.
George T Stagg has been a regular release since 2002 (with no release in 2021 due to stocks not meeting expectations) with differing ages and proofs. To determine what year or release a bottle is, you will have to either look at the laser code etched in glass of the bottle, or know the proof and look up what year that corresponds to.
George T Stagg Bourbon Review
- Distillery: Buffalo Trace
- Age: 15 Years 3 Months
- Proof: 116.9 (58.45% ABV)
- Mashbill: Buffalo Trace Mashbill #1 (~10% Rye)
- MSRP: $125 (750 mL)
Color – Slightly aged copper. A bit lighter than I expected for a 15 year old GTS but I have to remind myself this is 116 proof.
Aroma – I immediately get a beautiful sweet oak followed by layers of caramel, brown sugar and honey. The nose is heavily influenced with barrel notes. After a quick swirl, cinnamon and rye make an appearance with a slight spice on the backend.
Taste -The tip of my tongue is hammered with vanilla and oak coats my entire mouth. The oak slowly dissipates and there is a layering of a cinnamon and black pepper spiciness. After another sip, once the initial oak I get more layering of dark brown sugar, honey and caramel. The mouthfeel is amazing and oily, smooth and velvety. The proof hurts the viscosity but 15 years in a barrel does wonders and cannot be duplicated.
Finish – The finish is long lasting with a perfect intensity and full Kentucky hug. Aged oak, caramel and dark brown sugar linger on the palate and slowly dissipate. A well rounded finish especially in this proof range.
Rating – 9.2/10
Thoughts – The 2019 GTS is an outlier of the label due to its low proof. This years vintage is still aged over 15 years and has great flavors, complexity, layering and mouthfeel but the low proof does leave me wanting more. The flavors aren’t as pronounced as other highly aged cask strength versions of GTS or King of Kentucky.
This proof is actually right in my sweet spot (107-125 proof) and really enjoyed drinking a 15 year, cask strength bourbon in this proof range. Four Roses Barrel Strength Single Barrels are normally also in this range and are delicious but because these are all high rye mashbills they are a different experience. The 2019 GTS has more corn in its grain recipe leading to a beautiful soft sweetness of fruit and caramel intermingled with aged oak and vanilla. Rye spice is present but the lower percentage allows more of the fruit and barrel notes to be the dominate flavor notes.
Even though this is an outlier when it comes to proof in the George T Stagg releases, I think the low proof shows the versatility of the brand and provides a different experience compared to the rest of the GTS releases. Ultimately when a bourbon hound is hunting for this release, it is for the high proof, high age and intense flavors and if that is your main goal, this bottle isn’t for you. If you keep an open mind and save this pour for a special meal or to maybe celebrate with friends that aren’t proof hounds, this can be a really special bottle.
1 | Disgusting | So bad I poured it out
2 | Poor | I wouldn’t consume by choice
3 | Bad | Multiple flaws
4 | Sub-par | Not bad, but better exists
5 | Good | Good, just fine
6 | Very Good | A cut above
7 | Great | Well above average
8 | Excellent | Really quite exceptional
9 | Incredible | An all time favorite
10 | Perfect | Perfect
Debonair Gentlemen 
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