Stagg - or spec me a bourbon / rum

[Gryph]

Evenin all

I'm partial to my rum and bourbon- and had the fortune to sample a double shot of 08 George T Stagg recently after dinner. After the panic of glasses, ice, water options and general 'wtf has he just bought' from the staff, I have to say it was an amazing flavour, really loved it, worth every penny.

My other fav is 7 year old Havana rum.

Can anyone suggest another tipple alongside these bad boys? I've picked up a couple of the 7yr old, and edging towards a Stagg but yet to pull the trigger. For me, the flavour compliments a massively fat 'gar quite nicely.

Specifically asking around the rum / bourbon, as my single malt taste is perfected (salty, peaty).

[Smallclub]

If you don't mind extreme sweetness, try Ron Zacapa 23 yr Centenario.
It goes very well with strong cigars.

[monkey66]

If you can find some old Pappy Van Winkle's bourbon (the 15 or 20 year old) is really something.

[michael69]

Evenin all

I'm partial to my rum and bourbon- and had the fortune to sample a double shot of 08 George T Stagg recently after dinner. After the panic of glasses, ice, water options and general 'wtf has he just bought' from the staff, I have to say it was an amazing flavour, really loved it, worth every penny.

My other fav is 7 year old Havana rum.

Can anyone suggest another tipple alongside these bad boys? I've picked up a couple of the 7yr old, and edging towards a Stagg but yet to pull the trigger. For me, the flavour compliments a massively fat 'gar quite nicely.

Specifically asking around the rum / bourbon, as my single malt taste is perfected (salty, peaty).

I'm a bit of a Bourbon and Rum man...... here's a selected list of what I have. They are all excellent, but I have highlighted in red the ones that are (in my opinion) exceptional:

Bourbons and Ryes:

- Blanton?s Straight From The Barrel
- Blanton?s Gold
- George T Stagg Bot. 2005 141.2 proof/70.6%
- George T Stagg Bot. 2006 140.6 proof/70.3%
- George T Stagg Bot. 2007 144.8 proof/72.4%
- George T Stagg Bot. 2008 141.8 proof/70.9%
- George T Stagg Bot. 2009 141.4 proof/70.7%
- Noah's Mill
- Parker's Heritage Collection Cask Strength 64.8% (2007)
- Parker's Heritage Collection Cask Strength 63.7% (2007)
- Parker's Heritage Collection Cask Strength 61.3% (2007)
- Parker's Heritage Collection 27 Year old (2008)
- Parker's Heritage Collection Golden Anniversary (2009)
- Rowan's Creek
- Sazerac Rye 18 Year Old 2008
- Sazerac Rye 18 Year Old 2009
- Thomas H Handy Sazerac 2006 132.7 (66.35%)
- Thomas H Handy Sazerac 2007 134.8 (67.4%)
- Thomas H Handy Sazerac 2008 127.5 (63.75%)
- Thomas H Handy Sazerac 2009 129 (64.5%)
- Pappy Van Winkle's 15 Year old Family Reserve
- William Larue Weller Bot. 2005 121.95 (60.95%)
- William Larue Weller Bot. 2006 129.9 (64.95%)
- William Larue Weller Bot. 2007 117.9 (58.95%)
- William Larue Weller Bot. 2008 125.3 (62.65%)
- William Larue Weller Bot. 2009 134.8 (67.4%)

Rums:

- Diplomatico Reserva Exclusiva
- El Dorado 21 Year old
- Flor de Cana 18 Year old Centenario Gold
- Gosling's Family Reserve
- Mount Gay Extra Old
- Pampero Aniversario
- Ron Matusalem Grand Reserva Solera 15
- Ron Zacapa Centenario Sistema Solera 23
- Ron Zacapa XO Grand Special Reserve
- Santa Teresa 1796


As far as Bourbons go, Stagg is king! I have nearly all the so-called "hazmat" bottlings open, and they are all exceptional (just keep in moderation.....)

Nothing beats it as far as I'm concerned, with the possible exception of Parker's Golden Anniversary.

The other Parker's Heritage bottlings come close though.

The Blanton's Straight from the Cask and Gold as well as Noah's Mill are fantastic and slightly less expensive.

Ryes (especially Thomas Handy) are just as appealing to me as bourbons.
The William Larue Weller is a wheated bourbon, and is fantastic stuff with a slightly different flavour profile.

The Rums are all great, the Ron Zacapa 23 is a great one, but the XO just beats it for me (it's close though). I would also recommend the Diplomatico Reserva as a really lushious/smooth sip.

P.S. Don't get me started on Islay Malts........

[Gryph]

Thanks for the replies guys! Michael what a collection! Envious!!

Stagg it is I think, now to source it.