Buffalo Trace’s Most Awarded Bourbon

George T. Stagg and Stagg Jr.

When you hear bourbon dignitaries like Jimmy Russell or Booker Noe talk about Elmer T. Lee and their relationship with him, its always “Elmer over at Ancient Age”. That was the nickname of the Frankfort, KY facility when their Master Distiller Emeritus was in charge during the Age International era.

It was Elmer who had convinced ownership to invest into the infrastructure and consider entering foreign markets. Blanton’s was born in that time as the world’s first single barrel named after his mentor Albert Bacon Blanton..the space was known as the George T. Stagg Distillery when Albert Blanton ran the show. 

Stagg Jr and George T. Stagg were the features this week on Episode 25 of The Neat Pour Podcast.  Stagg Jr. is oddly a higher proof than it’s Antique Collection sibling GTS.  Every week for whiskey Wednesday Master Taster, Drew Mayberry and Master Distiller, Harlan Wheatley often describe George T. Stagg as the finest example of what they are capable of producing as a distillery. As well as referring to it as the most  awarded whiskey in their legendary lineup.

  George T. Stagg is regarded as the man responsible for expanding E.H. Taylor’s Old Fire Copper Distillery (now known as Buffalo Trace)and making it a financially stable operation.

Mashbill 1

It’s quite literally the flagship bourbon over there. Buffalo Trace Bourbon is a 90 proof, 8yr expression of Stagg Jr. You don’t often think of those two brands as being the same mashbill but it speaks to the variables of location in warehouse, time in barrel, and proof drastically changing a flavor profile. 

Buffalo Trace is and mashbill 1 mate Stagg Jr.

Where Chalonda prefers Jr at 128 proof, Nik adores the restrained excellence of Big Stagg. I’m guessing because our first dance with Jr led to her making these extra large lemonade ice cubes to tame Stagg Jr. This combo ended up being the soundtrack of the summer last year.

George T. Stagg has all the botanicals and black cherry soda vibration of its younger counterpart. Theres an underlying molasses and fig sensation that rounds out the palate in Sr. that makes it undeniable.  

We talk about Sazerac products all the time on this channel. I can say without any hesitation that George T. Stagg and Thomas H. Handy, two monumental real life figures in the Sazerac/ Buffalo Trace lineage are also the only two whiskeys I don’t regret paying near secondary pricing for.

In fact they seem to either remain at that same top tier experience even as the bottle reaches below the neck, and even to the halfway point. Its still just as good as the first sip. Not all the bourbons we sample are out here making that small but much appreciated moment happen.

—The Neat Pour