On its own
The nose was of sweet bourbon, with hints of cherry and what I thought was an underlying hint of pear juice. On the tongue, it was lightly silky, with lots of sweet cherry flavours to start. The flavours of the underlying spirit then fade in as the sweetness dries out, leaving a pleasant, clean finish. As it does so, a strong, lasting, delicious warmth develops.
with Ginger Ale
This had a fresh nose of cherry and lemon. On the tongue, sweet cherry notes flow into the faint warmth of the ginger. Oak and vanilla notes follow. Highlighted by the ginger, the flavour of the bourbon comes through impressively, making this somewhat reminiscent of a warmer, cherry-based version of fruit cup.
Manhattan
The sweet, vanilla and woody characteristics of the Jim Beam White (which is the base of Red Stag) come through, as well as a cherry jam doughnut note. Good and very sweet. The Red Vermouth gives a herbal complexity that sits quietly in the background. Towards the finish, there was a confectionery, almond note, ending on a very slight bitterness. This would be an excellent way to introduce people to bourbon.
Old Fashioned
1 part Red Stag, 1 part Jim Beam White, …
Incredibly smooth and not overly sweet, I thought this was a marvellous twist on one of my favourite cocktails. There were orange and cherry flavours to start, before the lighter versions of the familiar flavours of Jim Beam, predominantly a light woodiness, fade in. The bourbon notes build up a little as you continue to drink, which is dangerously easy to do. Essentially, a lighter, fruiter version of the Old Fashioned.
Bramble
Very sweet at the start, this had a cherry/raspberry jammy aftertaste that lasted for a good while. The warmth from the whiskey followed at the back of my throat and my stomach and, afterwards, I experienced a slightly sour sensation, akin to lemon sherbet. DBS thought this gave the drink an interesting sweet/sour balance, making it halfway to a whiskey sour.
Julep
Again, this had a very sweet, fruity start, with the drier, woody flavour of the bourbon growing through afterwards. The mint comes along with the sweetness, making it more of a sweet peppermint flavour, rather than the strong, independent mint flavour of a normal julep. Another interesting twist on a classic drink that’s lighter than the original; perfect for trying over the festive period.
Hot Toddy
As with most toddies, this had a lovely nose, rising with the steam; there was a sweet, fragrant scent of cherry, much like cherry flavoured boiled sweets or sherbet. To taste, the flavour was predominantly of cherry and lemon, which was followed by a glowing warmth from the bourbon. There was a definite sherbet sourness to this drink, making for a fresh, light toddy.
In Conclusion…
I’ve liked Red Stag ever since I first tried it. It adds another dimension (and one that’s likely to be more familiar to newcomers to the spirit) to the bourbon, enabling you to make some interesting twists on cocktails. If you find yourself wanting something with more bourbon flavours and less cherry, mixing 1:1 with Jim Beam White works marvellously. My favourite ways of drinking it were neat, in an Old Fashioned and a Hot Toddy – perfect for warming you up during the winter.
– Mrs. B
Jim Beam Red Stag is avaialble for around £23 for 70cl from The Whisky Exchange, Master of Malt & DrinkShop
STOP THE PRESSES! Red Stag is also to but from Tesco at the bargain price of £16.31 for 70cl.
Summer Fruit Cup 