Stagg Batch 26B: 125.2 Proof Kentucky Bourbon Release
Stagg Batch 26B is the latest barrel-proof release of Buffalo Trace Distillery's uncut Kentucky straight bourbon, bottled at 125.2 proof and released without dilution or filtration. For anyone tracking the Stagg line, the batch code is the detail that matters: each release carries its own proof, and 26B lands in the more approachable end of the range Stagg has occupied in recent years while keeping the concentrated, oak-driven character the label is known for.
This article covers what the 125.2-proof designation means in practice, how Stagg is made and aged, the published tasting notes for the release, and where Stagg sits relative to George T. Stagg and the discontinued Stagg Jr. name that still confuses shoppers. If you are deciding whether this batch belongs in your collection, the specifics below should make that call easier.
Current pricing and stock for Stagg Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Batch 26B 125.2 Proof are listed on its product page.
Product at a Glance
- Product: Stagg Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Batch 26B
- Brand: Buffalo Trace
- Category: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
- Proof: 125.2 proof / 62.6% ABV
- Age: Eight years in charred white oak barrels
- Format: 750mL
- Presentation: Barrel proof, uncut and unfiltered
- Distillery: Buffalo Trace Distillery, Frankfort, Kentucky
- Price: $149.99 (compare at $249.99)
- Availability: In stock at Main Street Liquor
What Is Stagg Bourbon?
Stagg is Buffalo Trace's barrel-proof bourbon, aged eight years in charred white oak and bottled straight from the barrel. No water goes in to bring the proof down, and no chill filtration strips out the compounds that carry texture and flavor. What ends up in the bottle is close to what came out of the wood.
That approach is the entire premise of the line. The distillery's published profile centers on chocolate, brown sugar, cherry, clove, rye spice and smoke, and the undiluted format means those notes arrive at full concentration rather than softened for easier drinking. Background on the distillery and its bourbon program is available on the official Buffalo Trace website.
What the 125.2 Proof Tells You About Batch 26B
Because Stagg is bottled at barrel strength, the proof changes from batch to batch depending on how the selected barrels aged. That number is not a stylistic choice made in the blending room; it is a readout of what happened in the warehouse.
At 125.2 proof, or 62.6% ABV, Batch 26B sits at a slightly more restrained strength than several earlier Stagg releases. In practical terms that means a fraction more room to taste the whiskey before the heat asserts itself, which some drinkers will read as a feature. The body and barrel character remain unmistakably full, so this is not a softened version of Stagg. It is the same whiskey arriving at a marginally gentler entry point.
Tasting Notes
Buffalo Trace's official profile for Stagg emphasizes chocolate, brown sugar, cherry, clove, rye spice and smokiness. The notes published for this batch develop that framework:
- Nose: Dark caramel, brown sugar, cherry, molasses, cinnamon, gingerbread and black pepper over charred oak.
- Palate: Full-bodied and concentrated, with caramelized sugar, dark fruit, chocolate, cherry, baking spice, clove and seasoned oak.
- Finish: Long and warming, with cherry, clove, oak, spice and smoky sweetness lingering.
How to Approach a 125.2 Proof Bourbon
Neat, in a Glencairn or tulip-shaped glass, is the standard starting point. Give the pour ten to fifteen minutes before the first sip. At this strength the alcohol dominates the aromatics immediately after pouring, and that rest lets the fruit, caramel and spice come forward.
Water is not a compromise here. A few drops noticeably open the whiskey, cutting the heat and pulling out sweetness and dark-fruit character that the full proof keeps compressed. A single large cube works as a slower version of the same idea, cooling and diluting gradually across a pour. Stagg also makes a formidable Old Fashioned or Manhattan, though the batch-specific nature of the release means most buyers will want to spend time with it neat first.
Stagg, Stagg Jr. and George T. Stagg
Three similar names, three different things, and the confusion costs people money at auction.
Stagg is the current name of Buffalo Trace's barrel-proof, roughly eight-year-old bourbon, released in numbered batches like 26B. Stagg Jr. is the same product under its former name; the distillery dropped the "Jr." designation, so older bottles carry it and newer ones do not. George T. Stagg is a separate and considerably older release, part of the Buffalo Trace Antique Collection, typically aged more than fifteen years and allocated far more tightly.
If you are shopping the broader category, our bourbon and whiskey collection and our rare and allocated bottles are the places to look.
Who Should Consider Buying It
Batch 26B makes sense for drinkers who already know they like barrel-proof bourbon and want a batch-dated bottle to sit alongside previous Stagg releases. Collectors who track proof variation across the line have an obvious reason to want this one on the shelf.
It is also a reasonable entry point for someone moving up from standard-proof bourbon, precisely because 125.2 is toward the more manageable end of Stagg's range. What it is not is a casual mixing whiskey. At this strength and price, buying it to disappear into a highball would be a waste of what makes it interesting.
Where to Buy Stagg Batch 26B
Batch 26B is in stock at Main Street Liquor at $149.99, against a compare-at price of $249.99. Stagg is an allocated release, meaning supply is determined by what reaches the market rather than by ongoing production, so the product page is the accurate source for current pricing and availability.
FAQ
What proof is Stagg Batch 26B?
It is bottled at 125.2 proof, equivalent to 62.6% ABV. Because Stagg is a barrel-proof release, the figure is specific to this batch and differs from other Stagg bottlings.
How old is Stagg bourbon?
Buffalo Trace currently describes Stagg as aged eight years in charred white oak barrels.
Is Stagg Batch 26B filtered?
No. It is bottled uncut and unfiltered, without dilution or chill filtration, which preserves the whiskey's texture and concentration.
Is Stagg the same as George T. Stagg?
No. Stagg is Buffalo Trace's separate barrel-proof expression. George T. Stagg belongs to the Buffalo Trace Antique Collection and is typically aged more than fifteen years.
What does Batch 26B taste like?
The published notes describe caramel, brown sugar, chocolate, cherry, dark fruit, cinnamon, clove, rye spice, oak and subtle smoke, with a long warming finish.
The Bottom Line
Batch 26B delivers what the Stagg name promises: an eight-year Kentucky bourbon bottled at full barrel strength with nothing taken out. The 125.2-proof figure gives this batch a slightly more accessible profile than some of its predecessors without giving up the density and oak character that make the line worth chasing. For barrel-proof drinkers and for collectors building a run of dated Stagg batches, it earns its place.
Purchasers must be 21 or older. An adult signature may be required at delivery.