George T. Stagg has a reputation for being a big, bold, unapologetic whiskey that pulls no punches. It’s easy to earn that reputation when every release is uncut and unfiltered. Still, some years are bigger and bolder than others. The 2016 iteration of George T. Stagg is the most recent release in the series to achieve “hazmat” status (i.e., the natural cask strength is above 70% ABV/140 proof). That magic number seems to have an association with quality in the eyes of “proof hounds” that love high strength whiskey. I’ve had my fair share of hazmat releases over the years and while they’re certainly full of both heat and flavor, it’s sometimes hard to separate the two when the strength reaches these astronomical levels. If any release can pull it off, though, it’s GTS.
George T. Stagg uses Buffalo Trace’s low rye Mashbill No 1. The 2016 release was crafted from 142 barrels selected from the first three floors of Warehouses M, N, H, L, and K. With a massive 76% of the original whiskey lost to evaporation, the yield was estimated to be just under 10,000 bottles.
For all the nitty gritty details on this release, check out all the tech specs here and don’t forget to check out the Single Malt Savvy BTAC Hub for more reviews!
