Stagg Kentucky Straight Bourbon proof 138.6 750 ml

Stagg is the uncut, unfiltered barrel-proof bourbon from Buffalo Trace Distillery, released in batches at whatever strength it comes out of the barrel — often north of 130 proof. Built on the distillery's low-rye mash bill and aged around eight to nine years, it is bottled without chill filtration, so nothing is stripped from the texture. Expect a dense, chewy pour: dark chocolate, brown sugar, and cherry up front, then espresso, char, and baking spice that the high proof drives deep into a long, warming finish. This is a hazmat-adjacent whiskey that rewards a few drops of water. It moves fast when it lands on shelves, so drink it neat and slow, opening it up to taste as the proof settles.

How to drink Stagg

At close to 140 proof, even a single ice cube changes this whiskey more than it would a standard bourbon — start with a splash of water instead if you want more control. It's dense enough to anchor an Old Fashioned for someone who wants the cocktail to still taste like whiskey.

Bourbon138.6 proof · Mash bill: Buffalo Trace Mash Bill #1 (low rye) · New charred American oak · Kentucky