Stagg Jr Kentucky Straight Bourbon Batch 2 128.7 Proof
Stagg Jr Kentucky Straight Bourbon Batch 2 128.7 Proof is a 64.35% ABV (128.7 proof), 750mL barrel-strength bourbon from Buffalo Trace Distillery in Frankfort, Kentucky — released in the spring of 2014 and bottled uncut and unfiltered, available to order online at Del Mesa Liquor, San Diego, CA.
- ABV: 64.35% (128.7 proof)
- Size: 750mL
- Batch: 2 (released spring 2014)
- Mash bill: Buffalo Trace's high-rye Mash Bill #1
- Aging: Roughly eight to nine years in new charred oak
- Distillery: Buffalo Trace, Frankfort, Kentucky
- Style: Uncut, unfiltered, barrel proof
The Second-Ever Stagg Jr: Spring 2014's Cherry Bomb
Batch 2, released in the spring of 2014, was the second Stagg Jr ever bottled — and collectors consider it one of the rarest of the early run. Coming in noticeably lower in proof than the blistering 134.4-proof debut, it showed the line's range: a more fruit-forward, approachable barrel-proof bourbon without sacrificing any of the classic Stagg power. Enthusiasts prize it for its elevated cherry and cola character, and its velvety, syrupy mouthfeel. Like all Stagg Jr releases, it is uncut and unfiltered, made with Buffalo Trace's high-rye Mash Bill #1 — the same mash behind Eagle Rare and E.H. Taylor — so its bourbon DNA is unmistakable. Shop it alongside other bourbon whiskey releases on the Stagg collection page or browse the full spirits range.
Tasting Notes
Nose: Black cherry cola, caramel sauce over butter pecan, thick caramel, vanilla, and oak. Palate: Velvety and creamy — fresh and candied cherry all over, baba rum cake, sweet rye herbs, hot like cinnamon candy with peppery heat that grabs the tongue. Finish: Cola syrup with medium-to-long length, sitting warmly in the corners of the mouth.
How to Enjoy
Neat for the full cherry-cola experience — this is one of the more approachable Stagg Jr batches at 128.7 proof. A drop or two of water enhances the creaminess. Its syrupy body also stands up beautifully to a single large ice cube.
Frequently Asked Questions
What batch is the 128.7 proof Stagg Jr? The 128.7 proof bottling is Batch 2, released in spring 2014 — the second-ever Stagg Jr release, identified by proof since batches aren't labeled on the bottle.
Is Stagg Jr Batch 2 rare? Among the early batches, yes — it predates the program's collector boom, was produced before demand surged, and is widely considered one of the hardest early Stagg Jr bottles to find.
Why did Stagg Jr become just "Stagg"? In 2022 Buffalo Trace dropped the "Jr." from the name, treating it as a standalone product rather than a younger version of George T. Stagg — so every Stagg Jr-labeled bottle is now a piece of bourbon history.
Own a piece of barrel-proof history — order Stagg Jr Batch 2 online today from Del Mesa Liquor, San Diego, CA, before this bourbon whiskey rarity is gone for good.