Stagg Jr Kentucky Straight Bourbon Batch 3 132.1 Proof
Stagg Jr Kentucky Straight Bourbon Batch 3 132.1 Proof is a 66.05% ABV (132.1 proof), 750mL barrel-strength bourbon from Buffalo Trace Distillery in Frankfort, Kentucky — released in the fall of 2014 and bottled uncut and unfiltered, available to order online at Del Mesa Liquor, San Diego, CA.
- ABV: 66.05% (132.1 proof)
- Size: 750mL
- Batch: 3 (released fall 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
- Awards: Double Gold, 2014 San Francisco World Spirits Competition
The Fan-Favorite Third Batch, Fall 2014
Released in the fall of 2014, Batch 3 was the moment Stagg Jr proved it was no one-hit wonder. At 132.1 proof it pushed back into the 130-plus range of the founding batch, but with a more considered, complete character — a confectionery sweetness and a cherry note enthusiasts say they hadn't seen in a Stagg Jr bottle before. It walked away with a Double Gold at the 2014 San Francisco World Spirits Competition plus medals at Los Angeles, the World Whiskies Awards, and the Ultimate Spirits Challenge. Buffalo Trace's master distiller has described this profile as rich, sweet chocolate and brown sugar in perfect balance with bold rye spiciness, the boundless finish lingering with cherries, cloves, and smokiness. Browse it with other whisky greats on the Stagg collection page or shop the full bourbon whiskey selection.
Tasting Notes
Nose: Classic and big — caramel and toffee candies, brown sugar on an oak slab, blackberries, dried cherries, Christmas cake, pipe tobacco, cinnamon, and dark chocolate with coffee. Palate: Rich, sweet chocolate and brown sugar flavors mingling in perfect balance with bold rye spiciness. Finish: Boundless, lingering with hints of cherries, cloves, and smokiness.
How to Enjoy
Neat in a Glencairn or rocks glass rewards patience as the cherry and chocolate notes build. A splash of water softens the 132.1-proof heat without losing the flavor. For collectors, this is the batch many consider the most complete of the original three.
Frequently Asked Questions
What batch is the 132.1 proof Stagg Jr? The 132.1 proof bottling is Batch 3, released in fall 2014 — proof identifies the batch, since it isn't printed on the bottle.
Did Stagg Jr Batch 3 win awards? Yes — Double Gold at the 2014 San Francisco World Spirits Competition, Silver at the 2014 Los Angeles International Wine & Spirits Competition, Bronze at the 2014 World Whiskies Awards, and an Excellent/Highly Recommended at the 2014 Ultimate Spirits Challenge.
How is Batch 3 different from Batches 1 and 2? Each batch is a different barrel selection at natural proof. Batch 3 is remembered as more refined than the blistering Batch 1 (134.4) and more fruit-forward and complete than Batch 2 — many collectors call it the most well-rounded of the first three.
Collector-grade, award-winning, and increasingly hard to find — add Batch 3 to your collection by ordering online from Del Mesa Liquor, San Diego, CA, or explore more bourbon whiskey rarities.