Bourbon Knocks Scotch Off Top Spot...

FRANKFORT, Franklin County, Ky (July,  2011) – George T. Stagg, the iconic uncut, unfiltered bourbon released annually from Buffalo Trace Distillery, has been named the number one spirit in the world, knocking off the perennial favorite Highland Park 18 Scotch Whisky for the first time since 2005. The list, compiled annually by noted sprits reviewer F. Paul Pacult, was released in his June 2011 issue of The Spirit Journal. The George T. Stagg is also the first American Whiskey to ever be named number one in The Spirit Journal’s 13 years of tabulating.

Notes Pacult, “This version (2010) of the GT Stagg is the latest layer in an incredible body of work performed by Buffalo Trace Master Distiller Harlen Wheatley that deserves to be recognized as genuinely great.”

The George T. Stagg Bourbon Whiskey is part of the Antique Collection that is released each fall from Buffalo Trace Distillery. Long considered the frontrunner of the Collection, the Stagg has collected numerous awards over the years, including the 2011 Ultimate Spirits Competition Chairman’s Trophy Winner; 2011 Double Gold Winner, Best Bourbon, San Francisco World Spirits Competition; the 2010 American Whiskey of the Year from Jim Murray’s 2010 Whiskey Bible; 2009 Bourbon of the Year and Best Bourbon Aged 13-17 Years from Jim Murray’s 2009 Whiskey Bible; and the Best in Class in the 2009 New York Spirits Awards, among others.

“This is such an honor,” notes Harlen Wheatley, master distiller at Buffalo Trace Distillery. “To be the top spirit, not just the top whiskey, but top spirit, in the world, and then to find out it’s the first American Whiskey to hold that distinction is quite a privilege – especially coming from someone as well respected in the industry as Paul.”

Adds Pacult in his review, “This is more of a clarion call that American whiskey distillers run with the best of Scotland and Ireland and, in some cases, like GT Stagg, eclipse them.”

The 2011 version of the George T. Stagg will be released later this fall with the Antique Collection.

Thanks to WhiskeyIntelligence.com for this article.  The Spirit Journal's Top 20 spirits of 2011 are available HERE.

Tales of the Cocktail

'Tales of the Cocktail' has established itself as an internationally-renowned cocktail festival in New Orleans.  Running for it's 8th year, the festival begins today (until the 24th July) with a series of seminars, special events, luncheons/dinners, excursions and competitions.  A host of well-known brands run complimentary events such as the Absolut Bloody Mary Bar, the Leblon cachaca Caipi-Mobile and a 'Tales After Dark' pop-up jazz bar with Benedictine.

The Corpse & Cocktail team are unfortunately missing out this year, but 2012 is a certainty.  Our good friend Matthew Dakers will hopefully be dropping us a report on his two days in the city...but knowing his passion for over-celebrating, I wouldn't count on it.