I happen to really like Jim Beam bourbon. You can usually pick it up for around $15 a bottle which is a great deal. I don’t love it in a Manhattan or in an Old Fashioned when bourbon or rye has to really shine but mixed with coke or ginger ale or on it’s own it’s great.  When I found out they were releasing a black cherry flavored bourbon I was pretty stoked, I know that most of the booze blogs initially weren’t very optimistic (though the tide seems to have turned) but I’m a sucker for new items and flavored liquors. It took me a good minute to track the bourbon down and I actually had to take a trip down to Astor Wines and Liquors to pick it up (this is now my favorite liquor store RIP Lenell’s who defriended me on Facebook anyway so fuck it), I got some other goodies as well while I was down at Astor that I’ll be reviewing over the next few weeks (I’m going to try to do one booze review a week).  I haven’t been to Astor in a while because I really haven’t done anything in a while but I’m trying quite hard to get myself back in the swing of things after a really rough eight months. I was pleased to see they have built up a great Absinthe collection, have Hangar One’s chipotle flavored vodka and have maintained their top notch vermouth selection. Now if they would just start carrying bitters….

I sampled Stag ($24.99) a few different ways.

Neat aka a shot – It was really nice this way. There was the pleasant warmth you would expect with  quality whiskey. There was also that lovely corn sweetness  with just a mellow note of fresh black cherry. Those that feared it would taste like Nyquil need not worry. It really just tastes like Jim Beam with fresh black cherries.  I enjoyed it this way quite a bit. 

Old Fashioned – I made my Old Fashioned with a sugar cube and The Bitter Truth’s Jerry Thomas’ Decanter Bitters, if I had any brains I would have realized after trying it straight that a sugar cube was unnecessary. The old fashioned was fine but too sweet with the sugar cube. It would’ve been much better with just the bitters and orange peel. I will not make this mistake with my Manhattan!

Manhattan – So I didn’t make a traditional Manhattan here. I used the Stagg with just some Angostura orange bitters and a homemade brandied cherry and it turned out lovely. I liked it a lot but maybe I’m too much of a traditionalist in that I like my Manhattans with rye, sweet vermouth and bitters. I enjoyed this cocktail but couldn’t see myself making it again as something was just off with it. 

Stag and Coke – Ding Ding Ding, we have our winner!! When I make bourbon or rye and coke’s I use Fentiman’s Curiosity Cola, the botanicals and herbs in it compliment whiskey so nicely. When mixed with stag this drink tasted like a gourmet cherry soda, a cherry soda of course that gets you buzzed which is always nice. This is how the Stag should be enjoyed and for this purpose I can see this bottle having a place in my liquor cabinet for quite some time.

Gulp It or Throw at Someone: Gulp it! At $24.99 it’s more expensive than most Jim Beam bottling’s but it’s pretty unique, retains an 80 proof strength and makes the ultimate bourbon and coke. 

Stag’s Site

Filed under: Booze Tagged: | Angostura orange Bitters, Astor Wines and Liquor, Bitter Truth, Bourbon, Cherry, Fentiman's Cola, Jim Beam, Manhattan, Old Fashioned, Red Stag