Stagg Jr. Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Stagg Jr. · Buffalo Trace Distillery
Stagg Jr. delivers barrel-proof intensity without losing its composure. This is a bourbon that rewards patience — a splash of water opens a secondary layer of vanilla and corn sweetness. It belongs in the conversation with whiskeys twice its price.
Nose
An avalanche of dark cherry and charred oak hits first, followed by waves of brown sugar and leather. Beneath the initial intensity, roasted pecans and a thread of dark chocolate emerge with patience.
Palate
Full-bodied and unapologetically bold. Butterscotch and tobacco intertwine with ripe cherry and espresso-dark caramel. Despite the proof, there is a surprising evenness — the sweetness and spice negotiate rather than fight.
Finish
Long and warming, with charred oak, dark cocoa, and lingering cherry. The tobacco note persists well after the glass is empty.
- Mash Bill
- Mashbill #1: Corn, Rye, Malted Barley (exact percentages undisclosed)
- Barrel Type
- New charred American oak
- Bottled in Bond
- No
- Single Barrel
- No
- Wheated
- No
Cocktail Suggestion
Black Walnut Old Fashioned — 2 oz Stagg Jr. · 0.25 oz black walnut liqueur · 2 dashes Angostura bitters · 1 dash orange bitters · Stir over a large ice cube, express an orange peel over the surface.
Food Pairing
Smoked beef short ribs with a coffee-ancho chile rub
Distilled at the storied Buffalo Trace facility in Frankfort, Kentucky, Stagg Jr. carries the DNA of the legendary George T. Stagg — uncut, unfiltered, and pulled from barrels aged in the center-cut of Warehouse C.
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