Hey look, it's Wednesday again... anything happening this week? Anyway, today we have...
We're going to try these side by side, with a reset of Booker's 7 Year that I enjoy to center myself between each one. First up, Stagg Jr - I think Batch 14 from Spring 2020, coming in at 65.1% ABV. On the nose, you can really tell this is high proof, and it's hard to find anything beyond that. Cherry and honey on the taste, with some oak finish. I also get a "tingle" on the finish - possibly from the proof. Adding water, I get a hint of Cinnamon on the nose, and I get it in the taste more too - that was the earlier "tingle". I get more oak as well. Very nice overall - worth finding, but don't pay more than retail price for this one in my opinion. I'd probably add water to this one to bring down the proof a little. Rated 3.75 / 5.0
2nd up is Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style Bourbon 57.5% ABV. Fruit on the nose with a hint of caramel. Some spice and caramel on the taste. With water the spice comes out a bit more, along with caramel and maple. I probably prefer it straight - nice overall, 3.75 / 5.0
Onto Elijah Craig Barrel Strength, 63.6% ABV. On the nose we have fruit, caramel and some oak. Taste we find vanilla, caramel, spice and oak. I get some fruit in the finish as well. With adding some water I find some cinnamon on the nose, and more oak on the taste. I probably prefer this one straight. Quite tasty overall. 3.75 / 5.0
Finally, we have Russel Reserve Single Barrel coming in at 55% ABV. On the nose we find cinnamon and oak, with a hint of vanilla. Taste I find vanilla, cinnamon and oak. Water doesn't really change things and I would prefer this one straight. Worth buying if you find it at a good price. Rated 3.75 / 5.0
Yes - I rated all 4 of these 3.75. They're different, but none of them stood out. I would say the Stagg Jr is #1 out of the bunch, followed by the Russell's Reserve, then the Elijah Craig and lastly the Old Forrester 1920 - but I would drink the Old Forester any day of the week - so coming in last on this list is nothing to be sad about. The Baker's I was comparing everything to, which I rated at 3.75 as well, I'd say would fit in as between the Russell's Reserve and the Elijah Craig. Cheers!
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