As previously reported this week, Ultimate Spirits Competition has just released its annual list of top-rated entries. The winners are divided into 15 other categories of alcoholic beverages, ranging from baijiu to brandy; all assessed on a scale of 1 to 100. But in addition to the prestigious “President’s Trophy”, awarded to the highest scores in the rankings, USC recognizes some other difference based on “Great Value”. As might have been the case, it indicates the products with the highest favorable data between value and final degree.
After literally drinking a bunch of whiskies, a jury of 16 judges (composed of some of the most famous names in the industry) placed Stagg Jr. at the top sensitive list. Pure Frankfort, Kentucky bourbon scored a normal score of 98 for its four-quarter bouquet and maple cream, thick, very spicy palate and dark chocolate smoky finish.
These tasting notes alone have a specific appeal. And his score puts him in the elite corporate. But most importantly, the bottle only sells for $49.99. Of all qualified spirits, more than 1200 in total, only two other labels offer the same or higher scores at a lower price. One was a $30 potato vodka from Boyd and Blair. The other was a Brown Caribbean rum through George Bowman, sold retail for $29.99.
USC is not on having a brilliant score from Stagg Jr. And while such judgments seem to fit more and more and are not unusual in the industry, USC feels that it has its own competitive advantage.
According to his project statement: “The Ultimate Spirits Challenge method raises the point of competitive beverage assessment by instituting a more rigorous trial. Each product is reviewed in ideal tasting situations during an era of time that allows the product to explain its most productive characteristics. Each product is indiscriminately evaluated through panels as a component of multi-step evaluations for any inherent or individual bias.
It is true that the tasting takes place over two months, much more than other contests, spread over several days. This is helping to give greater credibility to the results. But as far as Stagg Jr.’s position is concerned, it’s a little more tenuous. As with virtually all assigned versions of Buffalo Trace, it was already incredibly difficult to put it on your list. The distillery releases only two batches of unfiltered barrel-proof liquid by year. A January bottling already charges between $80 and $90 through online dealers long before the usC’s last failure. While it’s not actually at Pappy Van Winkle’s point, or even WL Weller-mania, each and every accumulated compliment brings him closer to that point. That is, as of today, maximum online classified ads of less than $100 are temporarily sold out. The lowest available value? $300 in Cask Cartel. As the stock market position warns us: buy bass, drink high.
Brad Japhe is a freelance journalist who specializes in food, beverages and travel. It makes moonlight as a beer and liquor consultant, organizing craft activities per month.