Walked into a craft brewery the other day and saw a Stagg Jr on the shelf and asked how much for a pour. bartender didn't know offhand so she looked it up on the register. $12 so of course I said give me a pour. She ended up giving me a rocks glass 1/2 full no ice. It was awesome and now my new unicorn find.
The only problem is that each Stagg Jr is quite a bit different. Different proofs and flavor profiles etc. I have two bottles and I like one much more than the other. I still think if you can find Stagg Jr. for under $100 you buy it of course. The first bottle I paid $90 for and the second $70 but the first bottle is better to my flavor profile.
I just got my 1st stagg last week. Batch i think 19, 22b. 130 prf. $50. Was at a local stores point redemption day. They had like 243 bottles of which 20 stagg, 30 blantons, 3 eh taylor straight rye, bunch of eh sml batch n quite a bit of SiB. 3 russells 13, 2 rock hill farms, $hit ton of eagle rare 1.75L. Buncha good stuff. Started at 10am on a sat, i got there by 7:30 n was 9th in line. One guy was there like 6:15. By 10 there was already 100+ ppl. You could only get 1 bottle, and if you wanted a second you had to get back in line. Luckily i found the store like a month-month and a half before the redemption day, and like 2 weeks before they wanted to get rid of a few of their store picks so did extra 5 points on top of the points the bottle was worth. Lucked out pretty good. My brother got one of the russells 13 for like 135-140.
I was lucky to find an E.H. Taylor Barrel Proof for $157 in early December. I felt generous and shared with friends/family on Christmas Day. Most knew the bottle was special and were super excited. Luckily, I still have most the bottle to share next Christmas.
Just a day after watching this video, I was at a fundraiser with a silent auction. One of the items up for bid was a basket with a bottle of EHT Single barrel and two tickets to a local Whiskey festival. The festival tickets alone were valued at $95 each. I snagged the basket for $165. Only 5 bids on it. I could not believe I got it for that bid. I would have paid that for the bottle alone which I have never seen on the shelf here locally.
I’ve tried E.H. Taylor Small Batch and Single Barrel by the glass and liked the Small Batch better. I’ve never seen any of these available for purchase and hope to get a bottle of the Small Batch some day.
Great review. I also prefer the EH Taylor small batch over the single barrel, but all Buffalo Trace products are very difficult to find in my area. I've never even seen a Stagg Jr on the shelf here, but would love to find some.
I love this channel and it is helping me evolve as a bourbon drinker. I'm a fan of Buffalo Trace, and a friend gave me a bottle of EH Taylor small batch. Unfortunately, I did not like the flavor profile of the EH Taylor. I prefer the flavor profiles of BT or WT 101.
Don't forget the EH Taylor Rye. I still have most of a bottle of that as well as the Small Batch and the Single Barrell. I am slow to drink it as I have not seen any bottles here in NY since 2020. I pretty much paid retail or slightly above retail for all of them. I can't resist buying a bottle I never see if it is under 100$.
@@slbdrinks you also inspired me to have a glass of the Rye Friday night and pour a glass of the Small Batch and Single barrel for the wife and I to compare Saturday night. I wish I could find these bottles now.
EH Taylor Small Batch is, in government liquor stores, $100.00 when you can find it. Presently there are 5 bottles spread over 3 stores. May be available in a few private stores at a similar cost if lucky.
If we're talking BiB and not barrel proof, it's about a $50 bottle, with mark-up. MSRP is 39.99 but it's allocated so you'll very rarely see that. If you see it for over $70, leave it. It's good but not that good. For $100 there's definitely way better bourbons out there. I can't speak for the single barrel though, never tried it
EHT SmB is $75 USD where I am but it's not often on the shelf. I prefer it over Stagg (Jr). Great video guys. I'd love to see you guys blind some of these unicorns against YOUR favorite affordable bourbons.
Just got lucky and found both E.H. Taylor Small Batch and Single Barrel at Total Wine. Had to grab both of them at MSRP. Still hunting for Stagg. Can’t wait to try both of them. Been enjoying your videos . Keep them coming!
I had a small batch that had about 3 ounces in the bottle that sat untouched for a year. Put it up against a bottle that had been open for a similar amount of time but with much more juice in it. They tasted completely different!
My emotions running rapid,,, pissed, jealous, congratulatory! All because I've never seen or tasted the EH Taylor or Stagg. Buffalo Trace has many unicorns that I have searched for with little success. Great series from you and Trent!
I drink a lot of the EH Taylor Small Batch and consider it my favorite sipping whiskey. It's also the only one of the above three I can find in a local liquor store. I did try pours of the other two in a bar and both are superb.
Small Batch is better IMO. Stagg Jr is very subjective because everyone likes different batches. I have tried B13,B14,B15,B17. For me its 13,17,14,15 in that order. Its good but hard to find. Single barrel was not for me, didn’t find it to fit my palette. Its been sitting on my shelf collecting dust.
Always an informative show. I live in Baltimore Md. and can’t find stag or Taylor yet ,I’m new at this but find the hunt kind of exciting thanks for sharing your wealth of knowledge, saves me some money Lol
Got everything there except that barrel proof. I was one click of a random wheel from it a few weeks ago. Another store around me has it for $500 and that is way more than I want to pay for it. Definitely excited to try those when I get to crack them open.
I have had the 4Grain EHT, and that to me was their best, but in my collection, the Single Barrel over any of my Small Batches any day of the week, imo, tried blinded as well, and it still rules, the Rye however is my least fav EHT, enjoy the content, Thanks
I really love your show, it’s obvious that you and your son just like to sip some great bourbon. These episodes that you did on Buffalo Trace products have been great. As you said I wish more of there products were available to the general public, I have the special reserve and haven’t seen any other would love to get them but I’m not willing to get killed on the secondary market so I just keep hunting. Again thanks for the great shows I’ll certainly keep on watching Norm
I am so enjoying your channel. Happened upon your channel while recovering from COVID, and I have been on a binge watching your episodes. Absolutely love the dynamic with you and your son. I am also building up my bourbon list. I am a newbie stuck on Jameson, Basil Hayden, Makers Mark and the other usual suspects. Cheers and thanks again for educating a newb! 🥃
Hey guys! Love the vids. Watched this one while sipping Eagle Rare. I recently (and accidentally) stumbled on a new dynamic to my drinking experience. I too, enjoy taking a full drink and holding it in my mouth to have my taste buds be flooded with the spice of the bourbon. Love it. This may be old news to you, but I've never heard anyone mention it. After swallowing that held in drink, suck in air through slightly puckered lips. The flavor profile blooms in full like a smack in the face. A whole other dimension to the tasting experience. Try it. Love to see you pass it on in an upcoming video. Best wishes! Keep putting out that great content.
I think Stagg Jr. is a pretty great whisky. It used to sit on store shelves. Now it sits on peoples' shelves like a trophy. I wonder how much BT is sitting in home bars, never planned to be opened.
I have often wondered the same. I drink my whiskey but cannot say I don't like having those bottles on my shelf and I will admit I am always hesitant to crack a bottle until I have a backup
Good video as usual! I find pricing a very random issue. I, like a lot of folks, want to know if something is worth it before you shell out a lot of money. But, once I've tasted it, I think the "reach test" is a bit more grounded. Meaning, would I reach for this bourbon over that one. (Of course that is limited to what you feel like drinking at any given time. Sometimes you want a big, bold, barrel proof that takes things to 11....Stagg Jr. And, other times you want the sweet, smooth, balanced, comfortable slippers that is E.H. Taylor Small Batch.) Ultimately, my point is there are MANY craft brands that sell far in excess of these, and you'd probably never "reach" for them over these 3-4. I respect Bardstown, especially the discovery series; same for Barrell Spirits, but are you reaching for them over these 4? All these Dickel + MGP ++, often don't add up to better, just older (and so more oak). I tried an Old Carter recently, and while it was good, all I could think about was "Boy that isn't even close to being worth $300-800 a bottle it sells for. There are several sub-100 dollar bourbons that are as good or better." Same with Kentucky Owl. That also setting aside celebrity nonsense like Sweetens Cove. I guess that's why fair blind tastings are always so revealing.
I have 3 Bottles of E.H. Taylor in box 😁 1 Bottle of Sazerac rye Both 2022 Special release Makers Mark 2022 1&2 and a presentation box Makers 46 with coasters as well as a couple two or three cases of Buffalo Trace and I have a couple of 1.75 ltr Russian standard and I have a couple of fifths of the Russian standard pre ban of course because you will never see it again with the tax stamps!!!! I just opened a bottle of Eagle Rare 10 Year😁 HOPE EVERYONE HAS A BLESSED DAY😁😎
After years of searching finally found EH Taylor. They were small batch and I bought two for $40 each. Buffalo Trace allocated , I think, proves you can get great bourbon without breaking the bank. So many small producers are charging silly amounts for ok bourbon, but people keep buying so why not. I wonder though how many people are repeat fans/buyers of the overpriced stuff
My brother in law gifted me a Weller 107 and a Blantons a few mo ths ago. He's the best brother in law 😆. But i haven't had any of the Staggs or E. H. Taylor yet. I seen BT and ER here in TN every few months or so.
I had to rewatch this; thanks for your review. I was in my local liquor store in Canton, GA last night. Snagged a bottle of E.H. Taylor Small Batch for $70. They also had Stagg Jr but were asking $200 for that. Neither were on the shelf so you wouldn’t know they had them. I’ve seen Stagg Jr several times since you guys posted this video and always its $200-$300. Bummer. Update: I snagged the new Stagg minus the “Jr” label for $200. It was a store barrel pick. No batch info on the label. Average price in the Atlanta area seems to be $299. Got it for the best price in my area. Thanks for the great educational videos.
Great video guys I also love me some Buffalo Trace I only have the EH Taylor small batch and I've got stag 16 and 17. I am in New Jersey I don't see them anywhere unless they're 250 bucks.
Love you guys, this review was great, could you adjust your presentation of bottles and glasses so everything is visible and balanced just from a viewer's prospective Thank you, Keep on doing what your doing
Lucky somehow I got my hands on a EH Taylor Single Barrel for $32.50 Clearance price for not a typical liquor store that didn’t know what they were selling. Needless to say I bought the only bottles that were available which were 2. Now I’m always checking the same area for clearance reduced alcohol.
Did the benchmark full proof compare at all to the EH barrel proof? How would you compare the two since the EH is so rare that most of us won’t get to taste. Does Benchmark full proof hold a candle to any of these other high proof rare BT lines. Obviously apples to oranges, but curious. Thanks guys. Good stuff.
Sorry a bit behind on comments. Sometimes life gets a bit busy lol. For the price point Benchmark full proof is very good! Does it hold up against Taylor barrel proof or others in this same category? Unfortunately no. It is quite a bit younger so with more time in the barrel yes.
After searching for a year, I recently added not one, but two bottles of EHT Barrel Proof to my lineup. It is incredible juice, but yes it is basically 133 proof Small Batch, so there are many of the same tasting notes there. Paid 129 and 275 for those. My EHT Single Barrel I paid 180, mine is a little peaty and super oaky, not my favorite. My best price on Straight Rye was 165, it is excellent. My best Stagg price has been 65. This is middle TN outside of Nashville. I am finding it a a lot for 100 or less and I agree it is a must buy for that price. Stagg is the champ of this whole lineup, followed by EHT BP. I can tell you, Stagg 22B, 22A, 23A, & 23B are all bangers, especially 22B. I have blinded Stagg 22B against WLW and Buckner's and it stands up to them both.
A local store has a EHT Barrel Proof and Barrel Proof rye up in a drawing. Buy one of their store picks get into lottery. For sale at retail. I only had 2 batch 14 Stagg Jrs and love them. Killed first bottle, babying the 2nd. I dont plan on seeing another Stagg Jr for retail
The most I’ve paid was $120 for a Yamazaki 12 and that’s because I’ve wanted to try it since I’ve started the whiskey thing and just hadn’t seen it in stores until then.
Could you go thru your pour, how long you take to drink your pour, etc.? I heard some people go by seconds on pour, some go by fingers (1,2,3 fingers). I am a gulper so when I pour it is by eyesight of what I think I want and then I take in what I want. Usually more than I need haha
Lol great question! I usually pour by eyesight myself. Sometimes I want a little more or a little less. Never usually drink more than bout 4 oz in one setting.
What do you know about New Riff Kentucky Straight Bourbon TPS Private Barrel No. 8797 or Fort Hamilton Rye TPS Private Barrel? Have you had these specific bourbons? I like New Riff but not tried Fort Hamilton bourbon. Looking to buy one of these bourbons. Any thoughts?
I've had EH Taylor Small Batch pour at a bar for $12 so freaking good. Single Barrel was good too had a Stagg Jr pour too at same bar for $16 I got a medicinal cherry taste that was very off-putting for me😒🥃
Stagg Jr - $199.99 E.H. Taylor small batch - $99.99-169.99 E.H. Taylor single barrel - $279.99 E.H. Taylor barrel proof - $599.99 - 899.99 Prices in northeast Jersey
I was able to get an EH Taylor SB for $70 in BK, which is crazy cuz I can’t find it anywhere in NJ, and if I do it’s like $150+. I was lucky to grab my Stagg Jr two years ago for $130, now it’s $250+ it’s BS
I'm friendly with my local store so he'll sell me the small batch for 99. But has it on shelf for 149.99. these prices are insane and it's just going to get worse with the oak shortage
When i see any of these at retail i certainly grab them but before i pay a penny over retail ill grab a Russels Single Barrel or Rare Breed in a heart beat!
Just got eh Taylor small batch at total wine for $46 not including tax. I would buy another one just to have but I like other bourbons more close to that price range but more likely trade it for another bottle I couldn’t find with somebody that’s the only reason I have another one for trade sake to try an get other harder allocated stuff
I have a bottle of Barrel Proof EHT that I was gifted 6-7 years ago that I still have around half the bottle. Looked it up and at 129.0 proof, its a batch 3. When my friend gave it to me, it was on every shelf. How times have changed. Enjoyed the show as usual gents!
Question for you regarding EHT Small Batch - first time ever trying EHT this past weekend. Loved the nose and beginning taste, but the finish seemed to be somewhat flat or just fall off. Now, I only had the one pour and will revisit this weekend, but wanted to see if I’m off on this or is that just the profile compared to others bourbons, say a Widow Jane 10yr or OF 1920, since those are a few bottles I’ve picked up based on your videos. Just curious. And - I’ve really enjoyed the content you all produce. Fun and educational that has led me to a number of new bottles that has actually become more of a collection now :) thanks again!
Barrel Proof is $67 plus tax. Only reason I know is because i won a lottery to buy one. It's a batch 10 and is sitting on my shelf waiting to be opened. So StaggJr vs EHT barrel proof... are they very similar in flavor?
Thanks for the price update! For me the Taylor bp is standard Kentucky bourbon flavors in a bold and beautiful way! Stagg jr is a bit different to where notes of cherry also shine. Both fabulous but for me Stagg jr is the bomb!
I paid $145 for Calumet 16, I would pay that again, it is that good. Typically, I don't pay more than $60 for any whiskey. I have on 3 occasions, the Calumet, Knob Creek 12 and Knob Creek 15. I bought a pour of Stagg Jr for $15 twice from the same establishment, 1 year apart. I would happily pay $150 for a bottle, and at that price, would buy as much as I could get. The pours I had, while completely different, I would consider slightly better than the Calumet 16, not much, but enough to justify the cost.
Honestly, I think the only brand from Buffalo Trace that I could see myself buying regularly, if it was available for a fair price, is EH Taylor. I think the small batch is just alright, but the bottle of Single Barrel that I have is great. It's complex and the flavors are super balanced. It's also distinct from a lot of other bourbons. The flavor profile is just delicious, and I would imagine it gets even better as you work your way up to the more expensive EH Taylor offerings. Stagg Jr, on the other hand, is just fine imo. It's definitely not worth the price or the time to find it. It's not very complex, often just tasting like grape cough syrup. It's a one trick pony that's only lauded due to its proof. You can find cheaper, more available, and better barrel proof bourbons for less.
@@Jared40 Eagle Rare is good for a $35 bourbon, but I think the EH Taylor line is just more complex and tasty. It's definitely something a bit more elevated than Eagle Rare.
@@Vortex1988 ya I live in Colorado it's hard to find Eagle Rare and have lucked out and got a couple bottles at $39 I got a 1.75 Liter for $109 earlier this year of Eagle Rare 🥃🦅
It’s frustrating that bourbon channels talk about how great these bourbons are and then say don’t buy them for more than a certain already low price. EH Taylor small batch is going for north of $100 in my area when it’s even available. $40-60 is wishful thinking.
We encourage trying to purchase as close to retail as possible but also have said many times the customer is king. You are the consumer and only you can make purchasing decisions that you are happy with. I have a number of bottles I pd more than I should have that’s for sure.
Man...my rookie pallet did not like EH Taylor small batch or it could've been single barrel as it was $26 for a double shot. I will try it again when I get a chance once I develop my pallet a bit more .
Only ever seen 1 small batch and it was 80 have never seen another under 300 for the small batch couldn’t imagine what the others would be stagg jr I saw for 500 ! These are at liquor stores
15 bucks for a Pour. Oh man that's probably 40s These days. Couple years ago I sat in line for A Option of Elijah craig 18 or Taylor Barrel Proof. It was my first Unicorn level bottle. At 70 dollars. Only took 3 hours. For my First Taylor BP. And I love EH taylor. Sat on that BP for 2 years. All my friends kept asking when are you gonna pop that top. I kept saying. "Qhwn the Bengals go to the SuperBowl" so That bottle is gone LOL now.
One thing I struggle to understand…if Buffalo Trace is one of the largest distilleries in Kentucky, why do they have such a hard time meeting demand when I see tons of the other big boy distilleries on the shelves in my area? Is the demand for their products in particular just that much more than Wild Turkey, Old Forrester, Elijah Craig, Four Roses, Woodford, etc etc..?
I've seen people post pictures of themselves online buying out entire shelves of BT products, so yeah, demand for anything BT is ridiculously inflated. I also think they try to support too many brands. If you look at Wild Turkey, they have about 7 brands that you can find pretty reliably. Four Roses has 4. Buffalo Trace has 20 or more.
Buffalo Trace is allocating at the distillery as well. Harsher than even liquor stores. It seems that the pandemic really did lead to a shortage of ready to sell stock. Could be another year or two until they're back up to normal. The following is as of this morning, from the website: "Buffalo Trace Bourbon is limited to one bottle per visitor, per day. Subject to availability, all other whiskies are limited to one bottle of each brand, per visitor, every 90 days." Kudos to them, they aren't raising MSRP by too much. If you're paying substantially higher prices somewhere, that's on the seller, not BT.
@@Vortex1988 that makes a lot of sense, BT supporting too many product lines. I hadn’t thought ab that before. I personally don’t understand the mindset of buying out a shelf. When I find an allocated product and buy 1, I think to myself how stoked someone else is going to be to find one of these other bottles on the shelf. 1 person can’t drink a whole case of bourbon….
Here in Houston EHT is almost non-existent. Cheapest I've seen is $100 and it was behind the register so didn't see which. Don't even know anyone that has seen a Stagg Jr down here. Lol
There are so many great $50-$80 bourbons. It's getting hard to pay more for anything beyond that for drinking, unless you really love something, or want to display, flip or trade it.
I got the Stagg Jr. Bottle for 55 dollars at a liquor store. They were holding a raffles for rare bourbons and when they called my number I saw stagg jr and I bought it.
@@slbdrinks only seen the Stagg Jr one time in a store for $120 and didn't get it. Had a Blatons & EH Taylor in my hands that day. The single barrel I love but is the only one I ever seen in stores! I'm in Plainfield IL
I went to my local store on truck day, which I usually do not. Taters were driving the owner nuts as he was just trying to check in the truck and get things organized. None of the taters ever buy anything other than BT or allocated items and ya don’t ever see them other than truck day. I know the owner well, helped him do some unloading and stacking and he sold me a Blantons. My buddy loves the stuff so I trade it usually to him. Of course taters see my bottle and just go nuts, bitching and moaning. Owner told them to go to hell lol. Then one of those idiots offers me a trade for my bottle. I just made up the following 1 EHT small batch, 1 Eagle Rare , 1 EHT Single barrel and he could have my bottle. This moron ended up trading me 2 ER’s, an EHT small batch and a Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel for one Blantons. Lol. Shows one the BT insanity is real. And for NO reason.
Walked into a craft brewery the other day and saw a Stagg Jr on the shelf and asked how much for a pour. bartender didn't know offhand so she looked it up on the register. $12 so of course I said give me a pour. She ended up giving me a rocks glass 1/2 full no ice. It was awesome and now my new unicorn find.
The only problem is that each Stagg Jr is quite a bit different. Different proofs and flavor profiles etc. I have two bottles and I like one much more than the other. I still think if you can find Stagg Jr. for under $100 you buy it of course. The first bottle I paid $90 for and the second $70 but the first bottle is better to my flavor profile.
Holy cow good deal for you!
Should of bought the whole bottle at that point haha 3-4 pours and bottle would of been yours 😂 just dump it back in lol
I just got my 1st stagg last week. Batch i think 19, 22b. 130 prf. $50. Was at a local stores point redemption day. They had like 243 bottles of which 20 stagg, 30 blantons, 3 eh taylor straight rye, bunch of eh sml batch n quite a bit of SiB. 3 russells 13, 2 rock hill farms, $hit ton of eagle rare 1.75L. Buncha good stuff. Started at 10am on a sat, i got there by 7:30 n was 9th in line. One guy was there like 6:15. By 10 there was already 100+ ppl. You could only get 1 bottle, and if you wanted a second you had to get back in line. Luckily i found the store like a month-month and a half before the redemption day, and like 2 weeks before they wanted to get rid of a few of their store picks so did extra 5 points on top of the points the bottle was worth. Lucked out pretty good. My brother got one of the russells 13 for like 135-140.
I spy my favorite rye on the top shelf - Lock Stock Barrell 18. So good
Scored 2 EHT SB at Buffalo Trace. A great pour. Just won a Stagg through our state lottery. Waiting to pick it up.
I was lucky to find an E.H. Taylor Barrel Proof for $157 in early December. I felt generous and shared with friends/family on Christmas Day. Most knew the bottle was special and were super excited. Luckily, I still have most the bottle to share next Christmas.
It’s nice to see a father and son enjoying a hobby together.
Just a day after watching this video, I was at a fundraiser with a silent auction. One of the items up for bid was a basket with a bottle of EHT Single barrel and two tickets to a local Whiskey festival. The festival tickets alone were valued at $95 each. I snagged the basket for $165. Only 5 bids on it. I could not believe I got it for that bid. I would have paid that for the bottle alone which I have never seen on the shelf here locally.
Great for you!
I have all 3 of those plus barrel proof and Stagg is just so good!
Just got my first EHT single barrel and had one pour and it’s very good! And bought it for msrp.
Excellent!!
I’ve tried E.H. Taylor Small Batch and Single Barrel by the glass and liked the Small Batch better. I’ve never seen any of these available for purchase and hope to get a bottle of the Small Batch some day.
Great review. I also prefer the EH Taylor small batch over the single barrel, but all Buffalo Trace products are very difficult to find in my area. I've never even seen a Stagg Jr on the shelf here, but would love to find some.
I have to agree. I'll take the small batch over the single barrel every single time.
My two favorite pours are STAGG JR 12 and Glenmorangie Signet. Both are those deep flavors that you discussing. Another fun video!
Oh yes!! Love the signet as well!
I love this channel and it is helping me evolve as a bourbon drinker. I'm a fan of Buffalo Trace, and a friend gave me a bottle of EH Taylor small batch. Unfortunately, I did not like the flavor profile of the EH Taylor. I prefer the flavor profiles of BT or WT 101.
And that’s what I call finding your path on the bourbon journey. Good job!
I don't think i've had EH Taylor Single barrel or barrel proof, but Stagg Jr. and EH Taylor my two favorite from Buffalo Trace that I have had.
I just got small batch today in a Virginia allocated drop. I was able to get one of the last 2. It was 60/tax included.
Beautiful!
Don't forget the EH Taylor Rye. I still have most of a bottle of that as well as the Small Batch and the Single Barrell. I am slow to drink it as I have not seen any bottles here in NY since 2020. I pretty much paid retail or slightly above retail for all of them. I can't resist buying a bottle I never see if it is under 100$.
Under 100 is a good gauge imo.
@@slbdrinks you also inspired me to have a glass of the Rye Friday night and pour a glass of the Small Batch and Single barrel for the wife and I to compare Saturday night. I wish I could find these bottles now.
EH Taylor Small Batch is, in government liquor stores, $100.00 when you can find it. Presently there are 5 bottles spread over 3 stores. May be available in a few private stores at a similar cost if lucky.
If we're talking BiB and not barrel proof, it's about a $50 bottle, with mark-up. MSRP is 39.99 but it's allocated so you'll very rarely see that. If you see it for over $70, leave it. It's good but not that good. For $100 there's definitely way better bourbons out there. I can't speak for the single barrel though, never tried it
Great show guys!! I have been looking for Stagg forever... never see it in NC. Thanks for such a great series... appreciate you guys.
you two are by far the best! I trust both of you with your reviews! my current favorite is 4 roses single barrel after trying a few
EHT SmB is $75 USD where I am but it's not often on the shelf. I prefer it over Stagg (Jr).
Great video guys. I'd love to see you guys blind some of these unicorns against YOUR favorite affordable bourbons.
Just got lucky and found both E.H. Taylor Small Batch and Single Barrel at Total Wine. Had to grab both of them at MSRP. Still hunting for Stagg. Can’t wait to try both of them.
Been enjoying your videos . Keep them coming!
I had a small batch that had about 3 ounces in the bottle that sat untouched for a year. Put it up against a bottle that had been open for a similar amount of time but with much more juice in it. They tasted completely different!
I see a Russells 13 on the shelf now, you didn't have one when you did the Wild Turkey products video. How does 13 stack up?
Trent got that for me recently as a gift. Only had a sip so far but it is honestly soooo gooood!!
My emotions running rapid,,, pissed, jealous, congratulatory! All because I've never seen or tasted the EH Taylor or Stagg. Buffalo Trace has many unicorns that I have searched for with little success. Great series from you and Trent!
That’s what’s hard for me even doing these shows. I wish everyone had equal opportunity
I drink a lot of the EH Taylor Small Batch and consider it my favorite sipping whiskey. It's also the only one of the above three I can find in a local liquor store. I did try pours of the other two in a bar and both are superb.
this is sad... i cant find anything EH lol
The ET BiB often tastes very very similar to the EHT Small Batch BiB. 95% of the flavor, 50% of the price, 200% of the availability.
Another lineup of bottles I've never seen on a shelf. I was able to trade for the EHT Small batch a week ago, so I'm excited for that!
Hope you love it!
Small Batch is better IMO. Stagg Jr is very subjective because everyone likes different batches. I have tried B13,B14,B15,B17. For me its 13,17,14,15 in that order. Its good but hard to find. Single barrel was not for me, didn’t find it to fit my palette. Its been sitting on my shelf collecting dust.
Always an informative show. I live in Baltimore Md. and can’t find stag or Taylor yet ,I’m new at this but find the hunt kind of exciting thanks for sharing your wealth of knowledge, saves me some money Lol
Tannytown Liquors..I just won the Stagg in their November lottery...so shop and enter the lottery there and who knows?
Got everything there except that barrel proof. I was one click of a random wheel from it a few weeks ago. Another store around me has it for $500 and that is way more than I want to pay for it. Definitely excited to try those when I get to crack them open.
I have had the 4Grain EHT, and that to me was their best, but in my collection, the Single Barrel over any of my Small Batches any day of the week, imo, tried blinded as well, and it still rules, the Rye however is my least fav EHT, enjoy the content, Thanks
Have to agree on the rye.
Gotta agree with Geoffrey. Always like what you guys post. Thanks and 🥃 Cheers
Sippin’ the small batch tonight, found it as Binny’s for $60 and would have known what it even is if not for your channel! Good sipper 🍻
I really love your show, it’s obvious that you and your son just like to sip some great bourbon.
These episodes that you did on Buffalo Trace products have been great.
As you said I wish more of there products were available to the general public, I have the special reserve and haven’t seen any other would love to get them but I’m not willing to get killed on the secondary market so I just keep hunting.
Again thanks for the great shows I’ll certainly keep on watching
Norm
Thank you Norm!
I am so enjoying your channel. Happened upon your channel while recovering from COVID, and I have been on a binge watching your episodes. Absolutely love the dynamic with you and your son. I am also building up my bourbon list. I am a newbie stuck on Jameson, Basil Hayden, Makers Mark and the other usual suspects. Cheers and thanks again for educating a newb! 🥃
First of all hopefully your health has improved. Enjoy the journey!
Hey guys! Love the vids. Watched this one while sipping Eagle Rare. I recently (and accidentally) stumbled on a new dynamic to my drinking experience. I too, enjoy taking a full drink and holding it in my mouth to have my taste buds be flooded with the spice of the bourbon. Love it. This may be old news to you, but I've never heard anyone mention it. After swallowing that held in drink, suck in air through slightly puckered lips. The flavor profile blooms in full like a smack in the face. A whole other dimension to the tasting experience. Try it. Love to see you pass it on in an upcoming video. Best wishes! Keep putting out that great content.
I will try it!
The Kentucky chew
I have not found Stagg anywhere - AZ or TX. Yes, solid line up!
I think Stagg Jr. is a pretty great whisky. It used to sit on store shelves. Now it sits on peoples' shelves like a trophy. I wonder how much BT is sitting in home bars, never planned to be opened.
I have often wondered the same. I drink my whiskey but cannot say I don't like having those bottles on my shelf and I will admit I am always hesitant to crack a bottle until I have a backup
I am a drinker also Jeff. The only bottles in my collection that are not opened are the backup bottles if I am lucky to have one.
Finished a bottle of the Taylor single barrel with my friends./ everyone was blown away by it. It’s really one of my favorites.
Good video as usual! I find pricing a very random issue. I, like a lot of folks, want to know if something is worth it before you shell out a lot of money. But, once I've tasted it, I think the "reach test" is a bit more grounded. Meaning, would I reach for this bourbon over that one. (Of course that is limited to what you feel like drinking at any given time. Sometimes you want a big, bold, barrel proof that takes things to 11....Stagg Jr. And, other times you want the sweet, smooth, balanced, comfortable slippers that is E.H. Taylor Small Batch.) Ultimately, my point is there are MANY craft brands that sell far in excess of these, and you'd probably never "reach" for them over these 3-4. I respect Bardstown, especially the discovery series; same for Barrell Spirits, but are you reaching for them over these 4? All these Dickel + MGP ++, often don't add up to better, just older (and so more oak). I tried an Old Carter recently, and while it was good, all I could think about was "Boy that isn't even close to being worth $300-800 a bottle it sells for. There are several sub-100 dollar bourbons that are as good or better." Same with Kentucky Owl. That also setting aside celebrity nonsense like Sweetens Cove. I guess that's why fair blind tastings are always so revealing.
Blinds are always most revealing. Kentucky owl is quickly fallen down my lists over the last year or so.
I have 3 Bottles of E.H. Taylor in box 😁 1 Bottle of Sazerac rye Both 2022 Special release Makers Mark 2022 1&2 and a presentation box Makers 46 with coasters as well as a couple two or three cases of Buffalo Trace and
I have a couple of 1.75 ltr Russian standard and I have a couple of fifths of the Russian standard pre ban of course because you will never see it again with the tax stamps!!!!
I just opened a bottle of Eagle Rare 10 Year😁 HOPE EVERYONE HAS A BLESSED DAY😁😎
Thanks Mike!
After years of searching finally found EH Taylor. They were small batch and I bought two for $40 each.
Buffalo Trace allocated , I think, proves you can get great bourbon without breaking the bank. So many small producers are charging silly amounts for ok bourbon, but people keep buying so why not. I wonder though how many people are repeat fans/buyers of the overpriced stuff
My brother in law gifted me a Weller 107 and a Blantons a few mo ths ago. He's the best brother in law 😆. But i haven't had any of the Staggs or E. H. Taylor yet. I seen BT and ER here in TN every few months or so.
Fantastic brother in law!!
I bought three bottles of ER. Each, to me, was thin, hot, and nasty.
I had to rewatch this; thanks for your review. I was in my local liquor store in Canton, GA last night. Snagged a bottle of E.H. Taylor Small Batch for $70. They also had Stagg Jr but were asking $200 for that. Neither were on the shelf so you wouldn’t know they had them. I’ve seen Stagg Jr several times since you guys posted this video and always its $200-$300. Bummer.
Update: I snagged the new Stagg minus the “Jr” label for $200. It was a store barrel pick. No batch info on the label. Average price in the Atlanta area seems to be $299. Got it for the best price in my area. Thanks for the great educational videos.
Great video guys I also love me some Buffalo Trace I only have the EH Taylor small batch and I've got stag 16 and 17. I am in New Jersey I don't see them anywhere unless they're 250 bucks.
I’m also a Jersey resident good to know thank you.
Love you guys, this review was great, could you adjust your presentation of bottles
and glasses so everything is visible and balanced just from a viewer's prospective
Thank you,
Keep on doing what your doing
Ya I struggle trying to set everything up appropriately. Especially now that Trent has his own glasses.
Lucky somehow I got my hands on a EH Taylor Single Barrel for $32.50 Clearance price for not a typical liquor store that didn’t know what they were selling. Needless to say I bought the only bottles that were available which were 2. Now I’m always checking the same area for clearance reduced alcohol.
I have a Stagg Jr. and I paid $80.00 for mine a couple years ago. It is 130 proof and pretty tasty !!
Did the benchmark full proof compare at all to the EH barrel proof? How would you compare the two since the EH is so rare that most of us won’t get to taste.
Does Benchmark full proof hold a candle to any of these other high proof rare BT lines. Obviously apples to oranges, but curious.
Thanks guys. Good stuff.
Says he responds..
Sorry a bit behind on comments. Sometimes life gets a bit busy lol.
For the price point Benchmark full proof is very good! Does it hold up against Taylor barrel proof or others in this same category? Unfortunately no. It is quite a bit younger so with more time in the barrel yes.
After searching for a year, I recently added not one, but two bottles of EHT Barrel Proof to my lineup. It is incredible juice, but yes it is basically 133 proof Small Batch, so there are many of the same tasting notes there. Paid 129 and 275 for those. My EHT Single Barrel I paid 180, mine is a little peaty and super oaky, not my favorite. My best price on Straight Rye was 165, it is excellent. My best Stagg price has been 65. This is middle TN outside of Nashville. I am finding it a a lot for 100 or less and I agree it is a must buy for that price. Stagg is the champ of this whole lineup, followed by EHT BP. I can tell you, Stagg 22B, 22A, 23A, & 23B are all bangers, especially 22B. I have blinded Stagg 22B against WLW and Buckner's and it stands up to them both.
Kurt...ya learned Trenton well! So well researched. Much respect to you both. So what is sweeter, OF 1910 or the small batch EH Taylor?
A local store has a EHT Barrel Proof and Barrel Proof rye up in a drawing. Buy one of their store picks get into lottery. For sale at retail. I only had 2 batch 14 Stagg Jrs and love them. Killed first bottle, babying the 2nd. I dont plan on seeing another Stagg Jr for retail
The most I’ve paid was $120 for a Yamazaki 12 and that’s because I’ve wanted to try it since I’ve started the whiskey thing and just hadn’t seen it in stores until then.
It’s $200 now
Same here.
Could you go thru your pour, how long you take to drink your pour, etc.? I heard some people go by seconds on pour, some go by fingers (1,2,3 fingers). I am a gulper so when I pour it is by eyesight of what I think I want and then I take in what I want. Usually more than I need haha
Lol great question! I usually pour by eyesight myself. Sometimes I want a little more or a little less. Never usually drink more than bout 4 oz in one setting.
I paid 199 for the stagg and was very happy to do so
It is a great bottle!
What do you know about New Riff Kentucky Straight Bourbon TPS Private Barrel No. 8797 or Fort Hamilton Rye TPS Private Barrel? Have you had these specific bourbons? I like New Riff but not tried Fort Hamilton bourbon. Looking to buy one of these bourbons. Any thoughts?
Same as you. Only have had NR but am quite fond of it.
Been waiting on part 3. Love the series. Sent an email about a discussion on part 2. Cheers
Appreciate you!
I've had EH Taylor Small Batch pour at a bar for $12 so freaking good. Single Barrel was good too had a Stagg Jr pour too at same bar for $16 I got a medicinal cherry taste that was very off-putting for me😒🥃
Well, you could always add a little water to it.
Great show boys! I hope one day we can all have those bottles on our shelves and enjoy them!
Best comment of the day! Me to dude.
Stagg Jr - $199.99
E.H. Taylor small batch - $99.99-169.99
E.H. Taylor single barrel - $279.99
E.H. Taylor barrel proof - $599.99 - 899.99
Prices in northeast Jersey
I was able to get an EH Taylor SB for $70 in BK, which is crazy cuz I can’t find it anywhere in NJ, and if I do it’s like $150+. I was lucky to grab my Stagg Jr two years ago for $130, now it’s $250+ it’s BS
Very similar here in MA.
Overly inflated prices
I'm friendly with my local store so he'll sell me the small batch for 99. But has it on shelf for 149.99. these prices are insane and it's just going to get worse with the oak shortage
😳😳😳
When i see any of these at retail i certainly grab them but before i pay a penny over retail ill grab a Russels Single Barrel or Rare Breed in a heart beat!
Just got eh Taylor small batch at total wine for $46 not including tax. I would buy another one just to have but I like other bourbons more close to that price range but more likely trade it for another bottle I couldn’t find with somebody that’s the only reason I have another one for trade sake to try an get other harder allocated stuff
Can get this locally for $69.99 for the small batch not too bad I snagged two bottles one for me one for my uncle.
I have a bottle of Barrel Proof EHT that I was gifted 6-7 years ago that I still have around half the bottle. Looked it up and at 129.0 proof, its a batch 3. When my friend gave it to me, it was on every shelf. How times have changed.
Enjoyed the show as usual gents!
No doubt about that!
MSRP for small batch is 49.99 stagg jr was 54.99 back in Jan 2024 single was 74.99 warehouse C 79.99/ barrel proof
Missed myself a barrel proof EH by 1 spot in line today. Stings!
I love Stagg. Will buy it any time I see it available, and the price is fair.
Where do you live I'm in Colorado only see it for like $300-500
@@Jared40 wow. I paid $125 for my first Jr but retail ever since. I didn’t even pay $300 for GTS.
@@Jared40 Dang. Our Liquor stores are state controlled. I did not pay that. But I rarely see it, so there's that.
💯!!
Small batch and single barrel are $200 here in Tallahassee. I got. Bottles of single barrel 4 ears ago for $100 each. It’s very hard to find.
Question for you regarding EHT Small Batch - first time ever trying EHT this past weekend. Loved the nose and beginning taste, but the finish seemed to be somewhat flat or just fall off. Now, I only had the one pour and will revisit this weekend, but wanted to see if I’m off on this or is that just the profile compared to others bourbons, say a Widow Jane 10yr or OF 1920, since those are a few bottles I’ve picked up based on your videos. Just curious.
And - I’ve really enjoyed the content you all produce. Fun and educational that has led me to a number of new bottles that has actually become more of a collection now :) thanks again!
Barrel Proof is $67 plus tax. Only reason I know is because i won a lottery to buy one. It's a batch 10 and is sitting on my shelf waiting to be opened. So StaggJr vs EHT barrel proof... are they very similar in flavor?
Thanks for the price update! For me the Taylor bp is standard Kentucky bourbon flavors in a bold and beautiful way! Stagg jr is a bit different to where notes of cherry also shine. Both fabulous but for me Stagg jr is the bomb!
I paid $145 for Calumet 16, I would pay that again, it is that good. Typically, I don't pay more than $60 for any whiskey. I have on 3 occasions, the Calumet, Knob Creek 12 and Knob Creek 15. I bought a pour of Stagg Jr for $15 twice from the same establishment, 1 year apart. I would happily pay $150 for a bottle, and at that price, would buy as much as I could get. The pours I had, while completely different, I would consider slightly better than the Calumet 16, not much, but enough to justify the cost.
Good comparisons! Heard the KC 18 yr might be coming out soon as well.
Awesome show guys....as for the E H Taylor Small Batch. Trenton says cotton candy. I say bubble gum 🤷🤣
Bubble gum is good!
what stores are you getting EHT SiB for 15-20 over msrp? what state are you in? lol ill drive or fly there and happily pay that!
Ha! We live in NW Indiana. Our local store owners are very reputable concerning price BUT we see these bottles very sparingly.
Honestly, I think the only brand from Buffalo Trace that I could see myself buying regularly, if it was available for a fair price, is EH Taylor. I think the small batch is just alright, but the bottle of Single Barrel that I have is great. It's complex and the flavors are super balanced. It's also distinct from a lot of other bourbons. The flavor profile is just delicious, and I would imagine it gets even better as you work your way up to the more expensive EH Taylor offerings.
Stagg Jr, on the other hand, is just fine imo. It's definitely not worth the price or the time to find it. It's not very complex, often just tasting like grape cough syrup. It's a one trick pony that's only lauded due to its proof. You can find cheaper, more available, and better barrel proof bourbons for less.
I agree Stagg for me has that medicinal cherry taste that I just do not like. EH Taylor line is great I love Eagle Rare but hard to find
@@Jared40 Eagle Rare is good for a $35 bourbon, but I think the EH Taylor line is just more complex and tasty. It's definitely something a bit more elevated than Eagle Rare.
@@Vortex1988 ya I live in Colorado it's hard to find Eagle Rare and have lucked out and got a couple bottles at $39 I got a 1.75 Liter for $109 earlier this year of Eagle Rare 🥃🦅
The eh Taylor lineup is very solid that’s for sure!
It’s frustrating that bourbon channels talk about how great these bourbons are and then say don’t buy them for more than a certain already low price. EH Taylor small batch is going for north of $100 in my area when it’s even available. $40-60 is wishful thinking.
We encourage trying to purchase as close to retail as possible but also have said many times the customer is king. You are the consumer and only you can make purchasing decisions that you are happy with. I have a number of bottles I pd more than I should have that’s for sure.
Prefer Eagle Rare over EHT
Man...my rookie pallet did not like EH Taylor small batch or it could've been single barrel as it was $26 for a double shot. I will try it again when I get a chance once I develop my pallet a bit more
.
Don’t be discouraged just because you may not like a popular brand or name. The journey is all about finding what you like.
@@slbdrinks thank you. Love everything about the channel you guys are gr8. Big fan of the family effort into the channel.
I’m going to have to try Stagg.
Only ever seen 1 small batch and it was 80 have never seen another under 300 for the small batch couldn’t imagine what the others would be stagg jr I saw for 500 ! These are at liquor stores
Wow. Just wow…
$900 for EH Single Barrel, $900 Barrel Proof, $400 for Stagg Jr., $400 Weller near me. Ridiculous.
Best bourbon duo there is ! Mike Atlanta GA
Is the Stagg batch 18 ? cheers !
Mine is batch 16.
15 bucks for a Pour. Oh man that's probably 40s These days. Couple years ago I sat in line for A Option of Elijah craig 18 or Taylor Barrel Proof. It was my first Unicorn level bottle. At 70 dollars. Only took 3 hours. For my First Taylor BP. And I love EH taylor. Sat on that BP for 2 years. All my friends kept asking when are you gonna pop that top. I kept saying. "Qhwn the Bengals go to the SuperBowl" so That bottle is gone LOL now.
Should've said the Browns but then you'd never get to drink it.
Ha! Wish they could have pulled it out!
Maybe I missed it, but in general, what is better between Stagg Jr & EH Taylor Brl Prf?
Great Video. I'm still waiting for the Jim Beam line review lol.
Got to get VOB that one!
One thing I struggle to understand…if Buffalo Trace is one of the largest distilleries in Kentucky, why do they have such a hard time meeting demand when I see tons of the other big boy distilleries on the shelves in my area? Is the demand for their products in particular just that much more than Wild Turkey, Old Forrester, Elijah Craig, Four Roses, Woodford, etc etc..?
I've seen people post pictures of themselves online buying out entire shelves of BT products, so yeah, demand for anything BT is ridiculously inflated. I also think they try to support too many brands. If you look at Wild Turkey, they have about 7 brands that you can find pretty reliably. Four Roses has 4. Buffalo Trace has 20 or more.
Buffalo Trace is allocating at the distillery as well. Harsher than even liquor stores. It seems that the pandemic really did lead to a shortage of ready to sell stock. Could be another year or two until they're back up to normal. The following is as of this morning, from the website: "Buffalo Trace Bourbon is limited to one bottle per visitor, per day. Subject to availability, all other whiskies are limited to one bottle of each brand, per visitor, every 90 days." Kudos to them, they aren't raising MSRP by too much. If you're paying substantially higher prices somewhere, that's on the seller, not BT.
@@Vortex1988 that makes a lot of sense, BT supporting too many product lines. I hadn’t thought ab that before.
I personally don’t understand the mindset of buying out a shelf. When I find an allocated product and buy 1, I think to myself how stoked someone else is going to be to find one of these other bottles on the shelf. 1 person can’t drink a whole case of bourbon….
@@geland1 our country has gone resell crazy on almost everything bourbon, shoes, gaming systems etc. Regular people cant find anything at MSRP.
Isn’t that the million dollar question?? For me it is!
Where do you shop to get these at MSRP?? I am from Idaho, so here I live, we never see these.
I was able to find a small batch at my local store for $60!
Glad small batch cotton candy was mentioned...thats exactly what i get (and honey).
Unfortunately, waaay overpaid.
Here in Houston EHT is almost non-existent. Cheapest I've seen is $100 and it was behind the register so didn't see which. Don't even know anyone that has seen a Stagg Jr down here. Lol
There are so many great $50-$80 bourbons. It's getting hard to pay more for anything beyond that for drinking, unless you really love something, or want to display, flip or trade it.
I got the Stagg Jr. Bottle for 55 dollars at a liquor store. They were holding a raffles for rare bourbons and when they called my number I saw stagg jr and I bought it.
Great buy!
I was waiting for you guys to give your rankings on these!! lol Who was your least favorite to you favorite? I'm sure they were all good tho!!
My favorite is the Stagg jr in this video. Least, tough call but probably the single barrel. Still very good though!
@@slbdrinks only seen the Stagg Jr one time in a store for $120 and didn't get it. Had a Blatons & EH Taylor in my hands that day. The single barrel I love but is the only one I ever seen in stores! I'm in Plainfield IL
Great stuff as always guys! I haven't seen EHT or Stagg in PA recently, but will be on the lookout.
John J. Bowman up there as well.
I went to my local store on truck day, which I usually do not. Taters were driving the owner nuts as he was just trying to check in the truck and get things organized. None of the taters ever buy anything other than BT or allocated items and ya don’t ever see them other than truck day. I know the owner well, helped him do some unloading and stacking and he sold me a Blantons. My buddy loves the stuff so I trade it usually to him. Of course taters see my bottle and just go nuts, bitching and moaning. Owner told them to go to hell lol. Then one of those idiots offers me a trade for my bottle. I just made up the following 1 EHT small batch, 1 Eagle Rare , 1 EHT Single barrel and he could have my bottle. This moron ended up trading me 2 ER’s, an EHT small batch and a Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel for one Blantons. Lol. Shows one the BT insanity is real. And for NO reason.
Wow, wow, wow!! Incredible. Kudos to you for going about it the right way with the store owner.
I need to move. Can’t find an EH Taylor small batch for less than $125
Ouch. I paid $120 for EH Taylor Single Barrel.
I'd like to find any of these.
Put the EH Taylor up against a $300 bottle and tell me if it would have been worth it 🤔 especially batch 9
I've also had a few Stagg Jr batches that were not special.
Single barrel at Kroger for $60. Very much worth it!
In South Georgia you will not find or buy Taylor for less than 125. And that’s IF you can find it
79 bucks for a barrel proof I do believe but that’s OHLQ msrp in Ohio
EH Taylor is $162 here in Prague!
EH Taylor SB vs SiB, what’s better?
Both delicious. Single barrels can vary in flavor so keep that in mind but in the video I preferred the small batch.