George T Stagg bottled 2011

Terrible puns aside, this is stellar stuff.

nose: caramel with light pepper, a more toffee like quality than the honeyed W.L.Weller. Buttered molasses mixed with bitter burnt sugar from a spicy creme brulee

palate: medium body, surprisingly dry, a little spicy, and loads of sandalwood sawdust.

finish: a little spicy, pepper, vietnamese cinnamon infused tar molasses

with water- nose: spiced fruit cake, with subdued fruit and more cinnamon, and minty eucalyptus

palate: spicier than it was neat, with more stewed fruit (apples and pears), and some wood, but not as much as neat.

finish: more or less the same, but more fruit and dessert-like (along the lines of a slightly stale, once moist mince meat pie) overall - this is a tale of two drinks. neat, the nose was fairly suppressed and muted, and the palate was shockingly dry. with water, it because expressive and more complex, and very enjoyable.

It's a tale of two bourbons, in many ways. Neat, it's closed, sour, and dry. Good, but with flaws. With water, it opens up incredibly, and brings some fruit to the show.

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