Review #370 - Stagg Single Barrel - Wiseguy Lounge Pick 'Extinct'
Wiseguy Lounge Barrel Pick Series: Part 2 of 20
While the standard Stagg, previously known as Stagg Jr., can be hard enough to find in its own right, it's even less common to see a single barrel variant. At our local Wiseguy Lounge speakeasy, we had a chance to try this 136 proof variant, a barrel pick which they've named 'Extinct.'
There's no age statement or other barrel-specific information available, but based on that high strength and the great reputation for the Stagg brand, we're expecting this to pack plenty of flavor. This bourbon is uncut and unfiltered, as well, which only helps its case.
Review #370 - Stagg Single Barrel - Wiseguy Lounge Pick 'Extinct'
USA - Bourbon
Price: USD 200 (2024, estimated)
Age Statement: NAS
Strength: 68% ABV
Details: Not chill filtered
Tasting Methodology: Reviewed 1 time; bottle at 30% fill level at time of review. Tasted in a nosing glass, rested 10-15 minutes
Nose: Very rich and woody, and you can smell the high proof on the nose. There's plenty of oak - dusty furniture oak, with some leather, and then some chocolate notes arrive. We found hints of malty grain; with time, sweeter notes like creme brulee developed.
Palate: A very thick mouthfeel; syrupy, a bit hot, with strong oak and fizzy cola flavors. Cinnamon and a bit of pepper come with the dark oak notes, and there's a dark red cherry fruit flavor as well; later, milk chocolate candies come to the forefront. Sweet, hot, and oaky.
Finish: That warmth lingers well into the finish - there's almost a second wave of heat. It's oaky and spicy, with plenty of tannins, though we get plenty of fruit notes, too: candied orange peel and very sweet raspberry, especially. In the aftertaste, more fizzy cola notes appear.
Final Note: This is an absolute beast - very oaky and hot, but absolutely packed with delicious flavor. This would be a great dessert pour at the end of the night, if your palate was warmed up to the strength - full of sweet notes of chocolate and red fruit, showcasing what high proof Buffalo Trace distillate can do.
Our Average Rating: 8.5 / 10
In the current whisky landscape of increasing prices and variable quality, we've added a value rating to our reviews that relates to the score and the available pricing of each whisky. This roughly equates to a 0-10 scale; no reviews so far have exceeded a score of 10, although it is technically possible for the formula to produce a value rating higher than 10 with a high enough score and low enough price.
Value Rating: 5.81
About Us: We're a husband and wife review team living in the Midwest United States. Generally, our reviews and tasting notes will be a compilation of both of our experiences with a whisky over several tasting sessions.
