A. Smith Bowman Cask Strength (Batch 1) Vs. Stagg Jr. (Batch 15)

(disclaimer: this bottle of Bowman was provided for free from Sazarac with no strings attached)

Today we are reviewing a brand new product - Bowman Cask Strength, and putting it up against its closest relative - Stagg Jr.

Bowman is Buffalo Trace Mashbill #1that has been re-distilled in copper pot stills in Virginia, and then aged in VA’s climate. Stagg Jr. is also Mashbill #1.

🥃Stagg Jr.) $79. Aged 8-9 years, 131.1 proof.
-The Nose is fairly strong with brown sugar, cinnamon, vanilla, green apple, dark cherries, and charred oak.
-The Palate is full-flavored and oily. It starts with some alcohol burn that quickly dissipates to reveal dark cherry, citrus, brown sugar, vanilla, cinnamon, oak, and hints of salted butter.
-The Finish is very long with mild cracked pepper spice, more brown sugar, cinnamon, and a hint of tobacco smoke. There is a slight lingering bitterness.
⭐️Overall the flavors combine to make this a high-proof Cherry Coke, and batch 15 is one of the better batches I’ve had!

🥃Bowman) $99. Aged 10yrs, 141.1 proof.
-The Nose is immediately ethanol heavy, but after breathing reveals some sour oak, delicious dried cherries and apricots, vanilla, and hints of grapefruit, leather, and coconut. Complex!
-The Palate is warming and oily-thick! The heat dissipates into flavors of cinnamon, brown sugar, caramel apple, dried cherries and apricots, and hints of leather, pecan, and coconut.
-The Finish is very long, with cinnamon, vanilla, oak, leather, and baking spices contributing to a lasting Kentucky Hug.
⭐️Overall, this is an amazingly complex, incredibly flavorful, hazmat-proof pour that benefits from a few drops of water to fully open up.

🏆VERDICT) This is another tough one. These are very evenly matched. I absolutely love the Cherry Cola I get from Stagg Jr. However, Bowman Cask Strength is definitely more complex, and an amazingly delicious feat to pull off at that hazmat proof! I would jump on either at retail price, but I think Bowman edges out the competition for me today, and contender for top release of the year so far!

Have you guys had a chance to try Bowman Cask??