2025 George T. Stagg Bourbon Review: Can Buffalo Trace Produce Repeatable Perfection?

“Waste no more time arguing what a good man should be. Be one.”

– Marcus Aurelius

When I heard this year's George T. Stagg release crossed over the threshold beyond the magic hazmat number, I knew I had to track one down. While the bourbon hunt was a little slower to produce this year, the generosity of the whiskey community turned up strong.

My dear friend Matt Long, also known as @rarewhiskeynomad or "Hazzmatty," sent along a sample for review. Matt runs an incredible community called The Whiskey Coalition, which I'm glad to be a part of. His family Christmas card this year was an easy 5/5 for me, and I am deeply grateful for his kindness as always in sharing this. You would be hard-pressed to find a more magnanimous man than Matt. He's the kind of guy that would make Marcus Aurelius proud.

With my review of the 2024 George T. Stagg turning up a perfect score, let's see if 2025 can live up to the pinnacle quality that is expected out of a bottle from the Buffalo Trace Antique Collection. After Matt sent along this sample, I was able to track down a bottle of my own, which enabled me to taste this three times prior to my final review in accordance with my editorial policy. Tasting this side by side with the 2024 release enabled a thorough review and a well-reasoned rating, which you'll find below!

Company on Label: Buffalo Trace Distillery, Frankfort, Kentucky

Whiskey Type: Kentucky straight bourbon whiskey

Mash Bill Percentages: Undisclosed Buffalo Trace mash bill # 1 (high corn, low rye, and malted barley)

Proof: 142.8°

Age: 15 years, 4 months

Buy online: Frootbat

Further identification: The 2025 George T. Stagg specs are detailed in their yearly release letter:

Nose: The nose leads with bold rickhouse funk, laden with rich caramel tones that exude an immediate elegance. While the complexity takes a little while to warm up, I start finding raspberry meringue roulade and vanilla tones first before the pervasive oak begins to let more notes free from its grasp. Light chocolate and confectioners' sugar dance in the nostrils. Sun-warmed farm fields come to mind as I inhale with happy, closed eyes. While there's allspice, black pepper, and clove aromas, they have all been softened by the chocolate tones, the general creaminess, and a wonderful aroma of homemade bread baking in the oven. I cannot believe how exquisite this feels in the nose without a hint of heat or any of the hazmat proof. After a patient rest, a mixed berry fruit compote tone begins to develop, giving texture that wasn't there before. Blueberry pie and stewed apricot build well on deep inhales. I am still amazed by the approachability here... After finally jumping into a sip, I return to a nose filled with beignets, molasses, and just a dab of butterscotch. An infinitely long inhale plays the story above on repeat, inducing only smiles and chills. The empty glass smells of cherry bounce and warm, bakery-sweet monkey bread.

Palate: My first sip shows up in a big way with more cherry than I know what to do with. It's juicy and mouthwatering on the tongue like sucking on a Jolly Rancher before coconut and cream shimmer off in the elegant linger. This is a beast of a bourbon that doesn't seem to taste like previous releases. The added nuance of that really fun coconut layer definitely sets this bottle apart in my mind. Another sip to reground me shows off decadent caramel monkey bread and cinnamon swirl sourdough. Goodness, this is good. The central theme of this pour is definitely that luscious cherry characteristic, which weaves its way throughout the entire experience. Sipping later into the dram reveals more candy shop sweetness, now leaning towards Sweet Tarts and Smarties, two nostalgic hits from my upbringing. I admit I am taking the smallest sips possible to preserve every minute of this pour, because this is damn delicious whiskey. Another poke into the glass as the liquid level is getting painfully low produces crème de menthe pie and a new layer of creamy caramel. My last sip is like a fond farewell to a friend with bodacious pear tart, nutmeg, peach flambé, and cherry dump cobbler layering out like a kneading cat in an infinitely long finish.

TL;DR: Cherry for days on an elegant and refined profile that belies the hazmat proof

Rating: 5/5

Pinnacle whiskey. A true rarity in quality.

After having a taste of this, my desire to hunt down a bottle was multiplied tenfold. I am grateful to have done so since then, and this enabled a deeper understanding of the inherent quality of this incredible bourbon. Comparing this pour to the 2024 George T. Stagg tells me everything I need to know. The 2025 release is better in every way, unless you are looking for a bit of that punchiness. If you like a whiskey that smacks you around a little bit, the 2024 is going to do that a bit better. As far as depth of flavor, evolution through complexity, and refined elegance, the 2025 bottling of George T. Stagg is a perfect whiskey in every way. This just might be the bourbon of the year.

WRITTEN BY: NICK ANDERSON

With over a decade of sipping experience, Nick Anderson brings a well-calibrated palate to his profound passion for the whiskey industry. Beginning in Irish whiskey before expanding into bourbon, rye, and beyond, he has long been taking the ephemeral observation of unspoken enjoyment and translating it into meaningful words. He is the owner and primary long-winded whiskey writer for AmongstTheWhiskey.com, and he hopes you find resonance in the patient conveyance of an honest whiskey review.