My last sip rounds out the caramel character arc before finishing with a short burst of Andes mint that TL;DR: Innovative production methods paradoxically produced a very traditional bourbon Rating:  3.5/5 clearly a step ahead of your regular shelf options that fall more towards the middle of my very fair rating

After a sip, walnut and almond tones become stronger, though the dominant character remains trending TL;DR: A majestic performance from Stagg, delivering infinite complexity in perfect harmony Rating:  

Layer in Pedro Ximénez sherry hogsheads for a finishing cask and you've got some of the most careful TL;DR: Elegant, refined and layered Irish whiskey Rating: 4/5 (Really good. The Tawny Port edition has no volume, depth or character really at all.

This might be one of the very rare exceptions that a bit of water is required to fully experience this Rating: 3/5 With any single barrel or individual store pick offerings, the notes and rating in this review

Another sip and swish amplifies the nutty characteristics I picked up on the nose with almond extract The sherry influence is very light, but it does seem to be producing most of the character. TL;DR: Simple sipping whiskey for those who don't give a damn Rating: 3/5 (Decent.

The barrel funk cannot be understated here, as it really feels like the defining character of the glass TL;DR: An oddly tame batch that falls somewhere in the middle of the Stagg quality scale Rating:  3.5

with my editorial policy, which mandates a minimum of three sober tastings before assigning a formal rating Those defining characteristics have an amorphous quality to them too. While the character hasn't shifted drastically, I do occasionally find some new tidbit to adore, as late TL;DR: A butterscotch and chocolate bomb, a taste that matches the old ways of whiskey Rating: 4.5/5

Overall the glass is quite light, almost airy, as I struggle to find any meaningful character to this TL;DR: A crushable one-trick pony that offers a few sweet and spice notes Rating:  3/5 ( Decent.

Chugging' through the air in the glass I find that the profile averages out to a light medley of aromas characterized The citrus characteristics of the rye rise up in a tingling wave of lemon squeezed into a glass of tea The creamy characteristics begin to build up speed and heft as the flywheel of the port finish begins but ultimately they proved equivalent Palate: This was more obvious than the dubious nose, but I'd rate to how one might imagine Norse mythology evolved over time through verbal storytelling, some of the characters

Given this is a barely-legal rye at 51% rye, I don't think many bourbon drinkers could be put off by Rating: 4/5 (Really good; I want one of these on my shelf.) This is classic Kentucky whiskey. At the bare minimum rye content this remains quite drinkable for bourbon enthusiasts, but definitely dares to mix in new flavors that compliment the 101 bourbon release.

The literary proximity and dark, barbecue smoke character lead one to also think of coal. Rating:  5/5 ( Just wow.

Despite a slight change in character, the butter persists. TL;DR: Creamy, balanced, and full of surprises; this is great whiskey Rating:  4.5/5 Absolutely delicious