Stagg Bourbon 750ml

Stagg Bourbon comes from Buffalo Trace in Frankfort, Kentucky, and is a Kentucky straight bourbon bottled at full barrel proof. Buffalo Trace releases it without filtering or dilution, so it comes uncut and unfiltered, and the proof shifts from batch to batch.

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It carries the name of George T. Stagg, an 1800s whiskey merchant whose name the Frankfort distillery carried for much of the twentieth century before it became Buffalo Trace. His name also sits on George T. Stagg, the older, rarer release in Buffalo Trace’s Antique Collection, matured for 15 years or more. This bottling launched in 2013 as Stagg Jr., a younger partner to George T., and dropped the Jr. in 2022. Since then it has been sold simply as Stagg.

Nothing is added or removed after the barrel. There is no water to bring it down to a standard strength and no filtering to strip out oils, so every batch shows its own proof and a dense, oily texture. Each release carries a batch code, and the exact proof is printed on the label.

Buffalo Trace’s own tasting notes:

Palate: Rich, sweet chocolate and brown sugar, balanced by bold rye spice.

Finish: Long, with hints of cherry, clove and a little smoke.

Buffalo Trace suggests serving it neat. Give a small pour a few minutes to breathe in a tulip-shaped glass, then add cool water drop by drop and stop once the chocolate and cherry come forward. A single large cube also tames the heat. Good partners include a square of dark chocolate, slow-smoked beef or a sharp blue cheese. It suits seasoned bourbon fans, for Buffalo Trace fans comparing batches, and a generous gift for someone who enjoys full-strength whiskey. Kept sealed, upright and away from sunlight, an opened bottle holds its character for a long time.