Stagg and BTAC...

[jwrussell]

I couldn't find if this had been discussed before, but I'm sure it has. So I'm just curious. In relation to the following quote from FlashPuppy in November of last year:

In the new issue of STUFF magazine (think Maxim), Stagg is listed under the holliday gift giving suggestions.

I am actually a little bit worried about this. What if everyone decides to buy a bottle? What if there isn't enough for all of us??????:grin:

What's the board's real effect on these types of bottlings? In particular, and because it is popular and well known, George T. Stagg. I'm curious if we can do this in any kind of scientific manner, or if anyone is really even interested in knowing. But if we knew the total number of bottles from 2006 it seem we should be able to figure out how much of that bottling this board accounted for...thoughts?

[cowdery]

Stagg has sold out every issue soon after it was issued. I know that's true of the first few years and I assume it's been true since. It's not a big issue, but I think people at BT would tell you that word of mouth spread by people like the participants on StraightBourbon.com has been a big factor in its success.

A note. When a distillery says "sold out," they mean they sold everything they had, which they sold to distributors. They don't know, at least not formally, if or how fast the distributors sold it and, especially, if or how fast the retailers sold it.

We assume it is a virtual sell-out all the way through the distribution chain, however, because it keeps selling out to the distributor customers, and distributors/retailers won't keep buying something if they aren't selling it.

We also have lots of anecdotal accounts of people contacting retailers and retailers contacting distributors and not being able to obtain bottles pre-release, let alone after release.

It's the kind of brand where limited availability is part of the appeal. The distillery will tell you they only have a limited amount of whiskey that is suitable for GTS and that's true as far as it goes. The fact is, the market is limited by choice to keep the buzz going and keep the brand highly profitable.

No criticism intended or implied, that's just good marketing.

[mgilbertva]

Any rumors as to whether there will be a Spring 2007 release?

[oldironstomach]

Any rumors as to whether there will be a Spring 2007 release?

What, you've finished off all of the '06 already Mark?

FWIW, still saw a couple of GTS '06 in Annapolis yesterday, at $49.99.

[stoopsie]

Saw a GTS '06 in Severna Park last week.

Howie

[jwrussell]

I've managed to account for about 7 bottles. 3 for myself and 4 distributed between friends.

Does anyone have a number for the 2006 run?

[ggilbertva]

What, you've finished off all of the '06 already Mark?

FWIW, still saw a couple of GTS '06 in Annapolis yesterday, at $49.99.

Dave,

No, he hasn't finished it off....he's just being greedy.

[gothbat]

Does anyone have a number for the 2006 run?

Well, according to the fact sheet there were 89 53 gallon barrels that had lost 57.57% of their original contents to evaporation. Just using those numbers gives you ~10,339 bottles but of course the real number would be lower because of several factors such as all 89 barrels having exactly the same amount in them, loosing the same amount to evaporation (maybe they account for this in the percentage though), samples, waste, etc... Call it 10,000 to be on the safe side although that is probably too low. Just my guess.

[jwrussell]

Hmmmm...higher than I thought it would be. Thanks for the info!

[NickAtMartinis]

I just picked up some VW (20 and Lot and saw GTS there. I think the price was $55. Should I buy?

Also, the bottle doesn't say a particular year (i.e., '06) or age (i.e., 13s years old). Is there a way of telling?

Thanks,

Mark Brown

Relatively new to Bourbon

[heatmiser]

I just picked up some VW (20 and Lot and saw GTS there. I think the price was $55. Should I buy?

Also, the bottle doesn't say a particular year (i.e., '06) or age (i.e., 13s years old). Is there a way of telling?

Thanks,

Mark Brown

Relatively new to Bourbon

ABSOLUTELY GET IT!!! I came across my first GTS earlier this year at Beverages & More. It was $49.99. I only bought one and when I went back to get more they were all gone (in all stores). The cheapest I have found them has been $70 (or higher) since then. GRAB IT!!!

You can tell what year by looking at the listed proof:

- 2002 - 137.6 Proof

- 2003 - 142.7 Proof

- 2004 - 129 Proof

- 2005 (Spring) - 131.8 Proof

- 2005 (Fall) - 141.2 Proof

- 2006 - 140.6 Proof

[NickAtMartinis]

ABSOLUTELY GET IT!!! I came across my first GTS earlier this year at Beverages & More. It was $49.99. I only bought one and when I went back to get more they were all gone (in all stores). The cheapest I have found them has been $70 (or higher) since then. GRAB IT!!!

You can tell what year by looking at the listed proof:

- 2002 - 137.6 Proof

- 2003 - 142.7 Proof

- 2004 - 129 Proof

- 2005 (Spring) - 131.8 Proof

- 2005 (Fall) - 141.2 Proof

- 2006 - 140.6 Proof

Thanks, heatmiser. I best run and get it tomorrow. I was planning on going today, but was just too busy.

By the way, I like your moniker.

[cowdery]

Here's a handy, wallet-size card you can carry for all of your George T. Stagg shopping needs.

Staggyrs.PDF

[NickAtMartinis]

Thanks Chuck and heatmiser. I just picked up my GTS and it looks like it's 2005. Which year is considered the best, does anyone know? And, any idea on the age of this batch that I've gotten?

Thanks,

Mark

[heatmiser]

2005 was the worst year ever for GTS and has been deemed almost undrinkable. My recommendation is to send it to me immediately and I will properly dispose of it for you. :grin:

[NickAtMartinis]

2005 was the worst year ever for GTS and has been deemed almost undrinkable. My recommendation is to send it to me immediately and I will properly dispose of it for you. :grin:

Oh, damn! Figures I get the bad release.:hot: Should I just try to return it or do you really want me to send it to you? If so, do you mind picking up the bill for the shipping?

[jwrussell]

I think the general concensus is there hasn't been a "bad" year. There were more than one 2005 release as I remember, which proof exactly did you pick up? And if it indeed was one of the 2005s you got one hell of a steal on that bottle for $55. Nice grab!

Oh, and for what it's worth, one of the 2005's, can't remember which one exactly (spring I think), received absolute raves and was voted for numerous awards as I recall from my research.

[ggilbertva]

Actually, there were three 2005 releases of the Stagg. One Spring KY only release (130.9), one Spring release, outside KY (131.8) and a Fall release (141.2).

[Joeluka]

The outside KY 131.8 proof spring '05 is one of the best bourbon's I have ever had. :bowdown: :bowdown:

[kbuzbee]

We also have lots of anecdotal accounts of people contacting retailers and retailers contacting distributors and not being able to obtain bottles pre-release, let alone after release.

There were AFAIK only three bottles of '06 sent to Ohio. They were in my store for 27 minutes!

'nuf said.

Ken

[polyamnesia]

Well, according to the fact sheet there were 89 53 gallon barrels that had lost 57.57% of their original contents to evaporation. Just using those numbers gives you ~10,339 bottles but of course the real number would be lower because of several factors such as all 89 barrels having exactly the same amount in them, loosing the same amount to evaporation (maybe they account for this in the percentage though), samples, waste, etc... Call it 10,000 to be on the safe side although that is probably too low. Just my guess.

i just looked up on the PA liq control board site and it SAYS there are units of STAGG in my area now.....maybe the NJ members who mentioned this were among the first i heard about Stagg being here in PA...which is great!

but my question is related to this (and maybe already answered) by gothbat......how many bottles of this latest STAGG are there? i see there are 6 now at my local store! about to go and see if this is true!

[gothbat]

......how many bottles of this latest STAGG are there?

Well, going from the fact sheet:

94 53 Gallon barrels with 45.23% of the original whiskey lost to evaporation = 2728.6414 gallons

2728.6414 gallons = 10329031.4ml or aprox 13772 bottles.

One thing I don't understand about the fact sheets is on the Barrel Size line it says "53 liquid gallons; 66.25 Original Proof Gallons", what does this mean? Were there originally 53 gallons of liquid in the barrels or were there originally 66.25 gallons of liquid in the barrels? I assumed 53 in my calculation above.

[ILLfarmboy]

Well, going from the fact sheet:

94 53 Gallon barrels with 45.23% of the original whiskey lost to evaporation = 2728.6414 gallons

2728.6414 gallons = 10329031.4ml or aprox 13772 bottles.

One thing I don't understand about the fact sheets is on the Barrel Size line it says "53 liquid gallons; 66.25 Original Proof Gallons", what does this mean? Were there originally 53 gallons of liquid in the barrels or were there originally 66.25 gallons of liquid in the barrels? I assumed 53 in my calculation above.

If you diluted the 53 gallons of "entry proof whiskey" down to 100 proof you would have 66.25 gallons of spirit.

[Cornman]

One thing I don't understand about the fact sheets is on the Barrel Size line it says "53 liquid gallons; 66.25 Original Proof Gallons", what does this mean? Were there originally 53 gallons of liquid in the barrels or were there originally 66.25 gallons of liquid in the barrels? I assumed 53 in my calculation above.

Ahh, yes, if you like filling out 1040 forms, you’ll like units of measure for alcohol. Not surprising, since they are both headaches, and both have to do with taxes.

‘Proof gallons’ is a legal term, and is the amount of ethyl alcohol in 1 US gal at 100 US Proof = 50% alcohol by volume (as some defined temperature, which I don’t know).

One Proof Gallon also equals:

A) 1 US gallon at about 42.3% alcohol by weight (specific gravity of about 0.934) and contains about1496 grams of alcohol.

2.59 ‘LPA’ or ‘Liters of Pure Alcohol’ which is apparently becoming the European standard of measuring alcohol for taxation.

So, if they say the barrels held 66.25 original proof gallons, this tells you the quantity of alcohol put in each barrel, not the total volume. I think this is a backwards way of telling you what the fill proof was = 66.25/53 x 100 = 125 proof.

So each barrel originally was filled with 53 gallons of 125 proof whiskey.

[Cornman]

If you diluted the 53 gallons of "entry proof whiskey" down to 100 proof you would have 66.25 gallons of spirit.

Your explanation is sure clearer than mine.

(I took too long composing my response and didn't see yours!)