Bottle Reviews

Tasting notes and reviews from the West Coast Whiskey Club community.

WCWC Stagg Pick 2025

129.8 ProofWest Coast Whiskey Club Pick

Reviewed by Jay Stevens · 2025

Nose

Bold and expressive with red cherry, plum, berry pie, and grape jam leading the way. Rich caramel follows, layered with baking spice, black tea, seasoned oak, milk chocolate, and a touch of black pepper.

Palate

A rush of honeyed sweetness upfront, quickly joined by medicinal cherry and caramel. Dark chocolate, tobacco, vanilla bean, and leather add depth, while pepper, allspice, cinnamon, charred oak, and a light clove note bring balance and structure.

Finish

Full and coating, delivering a classic Kentucky hug that spreads from the tongue through the mouth and into the upper chest. Cherry, chocolate, and baking spice carry through, finishing dry and oaky with layered spice and no bitterness.

Overall

A commanding Stagg profile with cherry-forward sweetness, chocolate depth, oak, and spice in strong balance.

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Elijah Craig Barrel Proof Single Barrel

131.1 ProofWest Coast Whiskey Club Pick

Reviewed by Jay Stevens · 2025

Nose

Deep and inviting aromas of dark cherry lead the way, followed by layers of brown sugar, cacao, honey, dried orange, apricot and vanilla. Warm baking spice rounds out the nose.

Palate

Bold, classic Elijah Craig character with dark cherry and molasses up front, balanced by dark chocolate, fennel, anise, white peppercorn and lingering allspice.

Finish

Thick, coating mouthfeel with a long finish and a gentle Kentucky hug. Lasting dark chocolate, new leather and cherry candy notes remain after the sip.

Overall

A strong single-barrel showing balance of sweet, spice, fruit and aged oak.

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Larceny Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

125.9 ProofWest Coast Whiskey Club Pick

Reviewed by Jay Stevens · 2025

Nose

Raw cane sugar, bright red cherry, sweet bread, saline, rum raisin, green banana and light baking spice.

Palate

Bolder than the nose, led by bright medicinal cherry, with char, brown sugar, charred oak and graham cracker moving into peppery baking spice.

Finish

Medium mouthfeel with a long spice-forward finish that coats the tongue without noticeable burn; warm and mouthwatering.

Overall

Drinks its proof and above its age with a compelling balance of spice, sweet and oak.

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Michter's Kentucky Straight Bourbon – 20 Year Special Release

114.2 Proof

Reviewed by Jay Stevens · March 1, 2025

Nose

Rich molasses and vanilla form the foundation, layered with cherry cola and gentle baking spice. The aroma is mature and expressive without drifting into excessive oak.

Palate

Cherry cola and plum open the palate before giving way to a complex wave of charred tobacco, leather, allspice, cinnamon, black pepper, dark chocolate, and orange rind. The aged oak presence is assertive yet well-integrated, providing structure without overwhelming the sweeter notes.

Finish

A creamy, velvety texture carries into a long, evolving finish. Charred oak and pepper linger gracefully, leaving a mouthwatering warmth that persists without any harsh heat.

Overall

An outstanding example of ultra-aged Kentucky bourbon. The 20 years in oak deliver depth and sophistication while the 114.2 proof maintains vibrancy and balance. A contemplative pour that rewards patience and pairs naturally with a fine cigar.

William Larue Weller — Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey (2024 Release)

125.8 Proof

Reviewed by Jay Stevens · February 8, 2025

Nose

Deep butterscotch and brown sugar lead the way, followed by rich toffee, dark cherry, apricot, and plum. A gentle layer of baking spice rounds out the aroma, giving it warmth without overpowering the sweetness.

Palate

The flavor profile mirrors the nose with pronounced dark cherry and stone fruit sweetness up front, complemented by notes of dark chocolate. The spice profile then builds, bringing leather, tobacco, aged charred oak, and baking spices into balance with the sweetness.

Finish

A thick, viscous mouthfeel coats the entire palate. The finish delivers a classic Kentucky hug without harsh heat. Lingering pepper slowly transitions into dark chocolate that remains present right up until the next sip.

Overall

A bold yet balanced pour that showcases depth, sweetness, and oak-driven complexity in harmony. This is the kind of bottle you open when the moment calls for something truly special.

George T. Stagg — Kentucky Straight Bourbon (2025 Release)

142.8 Proof

Reviewed by Jay Stevens · January 31, 2025

Nose

Explosive yet refined aromatics open with honeysuckle and vanilla bean, followed by classic Stagg richness—root beer, deep caramel, and layered baking spice. There's a sweetness up front, but it's balanced by oak and spice that signal serious age.

Palate

Bold and complex. Tart cherry and spiced apple lead, quickly joined by cinnamon, root beer, and charred molasses. Dark chocolate adds depth, while white pepper provides lift and structure. The flavors arrive in waves, never feeling rushed or unbalanced.

Finish

Thick, viscous, and coating from mid-palate to the back of the tongue, with a long, slow fade. For a hazmat-level bourbon, the heat is remarkably controlled—delivering a comfortable warmth rather than a burn. Lingering rye spice and cinnamon carry through, alongside well-integrated char and age. Powerful but not overly oaked.

Overall

A high-proof heavyweight that drinks with surprising composure. You can taste the age, the barrel char, and the intensity, but everything is dialed in. A classic George T. Stagg profile with polish and restraint—proof that power and balance can coexist.

Heaven Hill Distillery 90th Anniversary Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

107 Proof

Reviewed by Jay Stevens · February 25, 2025

Nose

Vanilla leads the way, followed by cherry cola, graham cracker, cinnamon, and layered baking spice.

Palate

A burst of mixed fruit cup and cherry fruit punch up front transitions into charred berry pie and orange cream. The spice build is complementary rather than overpowering, bringing charred oak, pepper, and baking spice that balance the sweetness nicely.

Finish

A full mouthfeel with a slightly quicker finish that leaves you wanting another sip. The profile follows a sweet → spice → sweet crescendo, just with a lower amplitude. Very approachable, offering plenty of flavor without challenging the drinker.

Overall

An enjoyable, easy-drinking bourbon that still delivers complexity.

Old Forester Birthday Bourbon — 2019 Release

105 Proof

Reviewed by Jay Stevens · 2025

Nose

Grape jelly leads the way, followed by milk chocolate, pipe tobacco, and caramel. Layers of peach and plum add a soft fruitiness, with a cinnamon-stick spice tying everything together.

Palate

Strawberry cream and vanilla arrive first, accompanied by plum sweetness. The profile gradually builds into tobacco, black pepper, and allspice, adding structure and balance to the sweeter notes.

Finish

Medium mouthfeel with a medium-length finish. A creamy texture coats the front and mid-palate, while lingering pepper and spice provide warmth without noticeable burn.

Overall

A well-balanced and approachable Birthday Bourbon with good flavor depth and a creamy texture.

Knob Creek Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey — 21 Year

100 Proof

Reviewed by Jay Stevens · 2025

Nose

Predominantly leather and dusty “Jim Beam” funk up front, followed by subtle notes of berry cobbler, graham cracker, rhubarb, peach, custard, and faint fruit punch.

Palate

Opens with a brief pop of red cherry and raw sugar before quickly building into pepper, leather, charred tobacco, and seasoned oak. The profile leans savory and mature as it develops.

Finish

Full mouthfeel with a long, oily finish. The lingering pepper brings a pleasant salinity that keeps the sip engaging.

Overall

A mature, oak-forward pour with strong cigar-pairing character and layered spice.