There are bottles you buy to drink, and there are bottles you buy because they represent a moment in time. The George T. Stagg, bottled in 2013, is firmly in the latter category — though I'd argue it rewards the drinker just as generously as it does the collector. At 64.1% ABV and carrying a £2,000 price tag, this is not a casual purchase. It is a statement of intent.
The 2013 release arrived during a period when American whiskey was surging in both reputation and demand. George T. Stagg had already cemented itself as one of the most coveted annual releases in the whiskey world, and the 2013 bottling did nothing to diminish that standing. At cask strength, this is whiskey that does not compromise. It lands in the glass with serious weight and presence — the kind of pour that commands your full attention from the moment it hits the nosing glass.
What to Expect
At 64.1%, this is unquestionably a cask-strength experience. You should expect intensity. This is a whiskey built for concentration and depth, with the kind of robust structure that only comes from years of maturation followed by zero dilution at bottling. The high proof means the flavour profile will unfold slowly — it needs time in the glass, and it needs your patience. A few drops of water will open things considerably, and I'd encourage even experienced cask-strength drinkers to give it room to breathe. This is not a whiskey to rush.
The NAS designation means we are not given an age statement, but with a release of this calibre, the liquid speaks for itself. The 2013 bottling has long been regarded as one of the stronger vintages in the George T. Stagg lineage, and having spent time with this particular bottle, I understand why it continues to command the prices it does on the secondary market.
The Verdict
Is it worth £2,000? That depends entirely on what you are looking for. As a piece of whiskey history — a snapshot of American distilling at a particular point of excellence — I think it justifies the outlay. The quality is undeniable. The intensity at 64.1% is remarkably well-managed; this does not feel like a brute-force whiskey despite its formidable strength. There is composure here, a sense of structure that speaks to careful cask selection.
I am scoring the George T. Stagg 2013 at 8.1 out of 10. It is a genuinely impressive whiskey that delivers on its reputation. The only reason it does not climb higher is the price barrier — at this level of investment, I hold bottles to an almost impossible standard, and while this is excellent, the whiskey market offers extraordinary quality at lower price points too. That said, for collectors and serious enthusiasts who want to experience one of the benchmark American cask-strength releases, this is the real thing. No shortcuts, no gimmicks — just whiskey made with conviction.
Best Served
Neat, in a Glencairn, with ten minutes of rest in the glass before your first sip. Add water sparingly — three or four drops at a time — and let each addition settle before nosing again. At 64.1%, this whiskey will reveal itself in stages, and the journey from full cask strength down to your preferred dilution is half the pleasure. Save this for a quiet evening when you can give it the time it deserves.
