Eligah Craig Barrel Proof (B520) Vs. Stagg Jr. (Batch 15)

Today we have a rematch from exactly 1yr ago. BUT, we have different batches. This is a matchup between the best ECBP I’ve ever tasted, and the best Stagg Jr. I’ve ever tasted.
I’m excited! Fancy Glencairn is sticking with the proven Stagg winner… Let’s see if the antlers can prevail today!

ECPB B520) $79. Aged 12 years, from Heaven Hill. 127.2 Proof.
- The nose is intensely aromatic and complex. There is an initial hint of musty-sour-funk that then reveals oak char and roasted peanuts. Then the strong caramel/vanilla notes take over along with some allspice, and a bit of leather and cherry.
- The palate starts out with a thick, oily mouthfeel, and includes strong caramel, brown sugar, vanilla, and dark cherries, along with some salted peanuts, and allspice.
- The finish is long and sweet, with caramel corn, some black pepper spice, and some slightly drying oak tannins.
⭐️Overall this is an amazingly complex, powerful, flavorful pour, and for ECBP, surprisingly smooth, pour.

Stagg Jr) $79. Aged 8-9 years, from Buffalo Trace. 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 buttered salt.
-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!

🏆VERDICT) It’s never been harder to crown a winner… In reality, either of these batches is an INSTANT buy at retail prices. The ECPB is definitely a smoother, higher age pour, and the Stagg is the hotter, more youthful of the two… However! If my life depended on it, I would have to crown those cherry cola notes from the Stagg Jr. the winner today!

Fancy is just happy she threatened my life and came up a winner… Watch out for her!

I really want to know what you guys think of these too