Stagg Barrel Proof Straight Bourbon Whiskey, Kentucky

Vanilla cream, dark cherry, and brown sugar hit with immediate force in Stagg Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Batch 25B, a barrel-proof release built for intensity and depth. Bottled uncut and unfiltered at a formidable 126.9 proof, this 2025 edition showcases Buffalo Trace’s low-rye house style at full volume, balancing rich sweetness with serious oak structure. It is a modern benchmark for powerful bourbon, shaped by a distilling legacy that prizes consistency, selection, and patience over compromise.

Product Details:

• Producer: Buffalo Trace Distillery
• Owner: Sazerac Company
• Distiller: Harlen Wheatley
• Style: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, barrel proof, uncut and unfiltered
• Batch: 25B
• Proof: 126.9
• ABV: 63.45%
• Mash Bill: Buffalo Trace Mash Bill #1 (low rye)
• Filtration: Unfiltered, non-chill filtered

Sensory Description:

Batch 25B leads with a dense, dessert-leaning nose of vanilla cream, black cherry, and warm brown sugar, quickly joined by toasted pecan, cocoa, and seasoned oak. The palate is bold and expansive, delivering dark fruit, caramelized sugar, and spice-driven richness with a firm oak backbone and a warm, driving heat that stays integrated rather than sharp. Leather and toasted barrel notes deepen the mid-palate, while the low-rye recipe keeps the profile round and full, emphasizing sweetness, structure, and dark-toned complexity. The finish is long, powerful, and oak-forward, lingering with dark cherry, cocoa, and a persistent spice glow that defines the Stagg experience at full strength.

Producer’s Background:

Buffalo Trace Distillery stands among America’s most influential whiskey producers, known for its deep stocks of mature bourbon and its disciplined approach to barrel selection. The Stagg name honors George T. Stagg, a historic figure associated with the distillery’s legacy and the rise of bold, age-worthy Kentucky bourbon. Under the ownership of the Sazerac Company and the guidance of master distiller Harlen Wheatley, Buffalo Trace continues to shape modern bourbon culture through limited, high-demand releases like Stagg, where blending, maturation, and barrel selection are treated as the core craft.

Serving Suggestions:

Serve neat at approximately 60 to 65°F in a Glencairn or small tulip glass to concentrate aromatics, then add a few drops of water to open the bouquet and broaden the palate. Batch 25B also excels in a high-proof Old Fashioned, where its concentration holds structure through dilution and bitters. Pair with smoked brisket, charred ribeye, aged cheddar, or dark chocolate to match its oak, cocoa, and dark-fruit intensity.