Stagg Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Batch 26A
Stagg Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Batch 26A is the first Stagg release of 2026 — Buffalo Trace Distillery's barrel-proof bourbon bottled exactly as it came out of the barrel, uncut and unfiltered. Batch 26A lands at 129.3 proof (64.65% ABV) in a 750mL bottle, the hotter of this year's two batches, and it is available to order online at Del Mesa Liquor in San Diego, CA while this small allocation lasts.
- Batch: 26A (first 2026 release)
- Proof: 129.3 proof (64.65% ABV), bottled at barrel strength
- Size: 750mL
- Style: Kentucky straight bourbon whiskey, uncut and unfiltered
- Mash bill: Buffalo Trace Mash Bill #1 (low-rye)
- Aging: Around eight years in new charred American oak barrels
- Origin: Buffalo Trace Distillery, Frankfort, Kentucky
The Barrel-Proof Bourbon Named for George T. Stagg
Stagg carries the name of George T. Stagg, the 19th-century whiskey salesman who built the Frankfort distillery that eventually became Buffalo Trace. The bourbon debuted in 2013 as Stagg Jr. and dropped the "Jr." from Batch 18 onward, a nod to how the whiskey itself had matured. Like its Antique Collection namesake, every batch is drawn from Buffalo Trace's low-rye Mash Bill #1, aged in new charred oak through years of Kentucky summers and winters, and bottled with nothing added and nothing taken away. Because each batch comes straight from the barrel, proof swings from release to release — and at 129.3 proof, Batch 26A sits toward the powerful end of the Stagg range. Allocated and released in limited runs, each batch sells through quickly; you can browse more allocated releases in our bourbon whiskey collection.
Tasting Notes
Batch 26A leans into fruit and spice. The nose leads with dark cherry and cinnamon over caramel and oak char, with the rich chocolate and brown sugar sweetness Buffalo Trace describes as the house Stagg signature underneath. The palate is heavy and coating — dark cherry, caramel, and vanilla up front, then brown sugar, chocolate, and bold baking spice carried on real barrel-proof heat. The finish runs very long and warming, with cinnamon heat, clove, and charred oak fading into a thread of cherry smoke.
How to Enjoy
Pour it neat first and give it a few minutes in the glass — at 129.3 proof, Batch 26A rewards patience. A few drops of water open the sweetness and pull the cherry and chocolate forward without flattening the spice, and a single large cube does the same job more slowly. It also has more than enough proof to stand up in a stirred Old Fashioned. However you pour it, this is a sipping bourbon, best taken slowly.
Frequently Asked Questions
What proof is Stagg Batch 26A?
Batch 26A is bottled at 129.3 proof (64.65% ABV). Every Stagg batch is bottled at its natural barrel strength, so the proof differs from batch to batch — the second 2026 batch, 26B, came in at 125.2 proof.
Is Stagg the same as George T. Stagg?
No. George T. Stagg is the older, ultra-limited Buffalo Trace Antique Collection release. Stagg (formerly Stagg Jr.) is its younger sibling — same distillery, same low-rye mash bill, aged around eight years and also bottled uncut and unfiltered.
Is Stagg Batch 26A chill filtered?
No. It is bottled uncut and unfiltered, exactly as it came from the barrel, which preserves its full texture and flavor.
Where can I buy Stagg Batch 26A?
Right here — order this bottle online from Del Mesa Liquor in San Diego, CA, and explore more from the distillery on the Stagg brand page.
Allocated barrel-proof bourbon at this level rarely sits on a shelf for long — add Stagg Batch 26A to your cart at Del Mesa Liquor and order online today.