Stagg Jr.

Stagg Jr. Kentucky Straight Bourbon—now officially designated simply as Stagg—is the fiercely celebrated younger sibling to the legendary George T. Stagg of the Buffalo Trace Antique Collection. Introduced in 2013 by Buffalo Trace to help satisfy the insatiable global demand for uncut, barrel-proof bourbon, Stagg Jr. delivers the raw power, intense flavor concentration, and rich oak profile of its historic namesake in an eight-to-ten-year age profile. Released in distinct, highly coveted numbered batches, each release is an unadulterated snapshot of peak barrel-proof craftsmanship.

Crafted at the historic Buffalo Trace Distillery in Frankfort, Kentucky, along the banks of the Kentucky River, Stagg Jr. is matured in the distillery's storied brick and concrete aging warehouses. Barrels destined for Stagg are positioned on the upper and middle tiers of these rickhouses, where intense seasonal heat during Kentucky summers accelerates interaction between the distillate and the charred oak staves. This thermal pressure extracts immense concentrations of wood sugars, vanillin, and char compounds while inducing significant evaporation that concentrates the proof naturally.

Stagg Jr. is produced from Buffalo Trace's low-rye Mash Bill #1, blending sweet corn with malted barley and a subtle rye component of ten percent or less. Distilled in copper column stills and barreled into new American white oak casks charred to Level 4, the whiskey matures for approximately eight to ten years. Like its older BTAC sibling, Stagg is bottled straight from the barrel without chill filtration and without the addition of a single drop of water, ensuring that all the natural barrel oils and robust congeners remain intact in every bottle.

Bottled at staggering barrel-proof strengths typically hovering around 65.45% alcohol by volume (130.9 proof), Stagg Jr. is a powerhouse on the palate. It pours a radiant, deep mahogany and delivers an arresting bouquet of dark Luxardo cherries, charred oak, brown sugar, cocoa powder, and sweet tobacco. The mouthfeel is exceptionally thick, oily, and coating, unleashing waves of cinnamon red hots, dark chocolate, ripe blackberries, toasted vanilla, and leather before concluding in an astonishingly long, warming, spice-filled finish.

To properly explore Stagg Jr., pour a neat dram into a tulip-shaped Glencairn glass and let it breathe for ten to fifteen minutes. An initial neat sip delivers an electrifying rush of bold Kentucky flavor. Introducing a splash of cool spring water or a large ice cube softens the intense ethanol threshold, unveiling decadent bakery notes of cherry cobbler, maple syrup, and toasted pecan. For those who dare, it also creates an overwhelmingly rich, unforgettable barrel-proof Old Fashioned.

Stagg Jr. is a must-have trophy for barrel-proof enthusiasts, collectors of allocated Buffalo Trace releases, and drinkers who crave unapologetic flavor intensity. It serves as an extraordinary gift for seasoned connoisseurs and an electrifying addition to any high-end bourbon lineup.