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Booker’s vs George T. Stagg
Put Booker’s next to George T. Stagg and you have an uncut, high-rye heavyweight set against a full-proof, unfiltered heavyweight.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Booker’s | George T. Stagg |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon, Barrel Proof | Traditional Bourbon, Barrel Proof |
| Mash Bill 1 | 75% corn, 13% rye, 12% malted barley | 78% corn, 10% rye, 12% malted barley |
| Age | 7 years | No age statement |
| Proof | 125 proof (62.5% ABV) | 142.8 proof (71.4% ABV) +18 proof |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$85 – $110 ~$378 less | ~$150 – $800 |
| Availability | Limited easier to find | Allocated |
- Booker’s and George T. Stagg do not publish an official mash bill.
- US shelf prices as of 2026-08; they vary widely by market.
AG’s Rating and AG’s Notes
Booker’s
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
George T. Stagg
Very complex, with the taste profile moving across the entire palate.
Flavor Profile
Booker’s George T. Stagg
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
nuttiness 8/3 nuttiness: Booker’s 8 out of 10, George T. Stagg 3 out of 10
fruit 4/6 fruit: Booker’s 4 out of 10, George T. Stagg 6 out of 10
spice 7/6 spice: Booker’s 7 out of 10, George T. Stagg 6 out of 10
oak 8/9 oak: Booker’s 8 out of 10, George T. Stagg 9 out of 10
sweetness 7/7 sweetness: Booker’s 7 out of 10, George T. Stagg 7 out of 10
heat 10/10 heat: Booker’s 10 out of 10, George T. Stagg 10 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
The house grain character is what splits these.
- Booker’s: Uncut, unfiltered Beam at batch strength, and the most concentrated expression of the house peanut-and-oak character. Enormous and hot, with a finish that goes on well past where you expect it to stop.
- George T. Stagg: The Buffalo Trace Antique Collection's barrel-proof bourbon, around 15 years old. Root beer, dark caramel and charred oak at an enormous proof that changes each year.
Which One Should You Choose?
- Go with Booker’s if you want the Beam house style at full power and you have water on the table at a significantly lower price point and without hunting for it.
- Go with George T. Stagg if you want the oldest, hottest, most concentrated Buffalo Trace bourbon you can find with more proof behind it.
Best enjoyed neat (Booker’s); neat (George T. Stagg).