Stagg Jr. Batch 15 is the Fall 2020 release of Buffalo Trace's barrel proof powerhouse, bottled uncut and unfiltered at a towering 131.1 proof, among the highest strengths ever released under the label. It also carries the Jr. name, which Buffalo Trace dropped after Batch 17, so this is a bottle from the original era of the line. The name honours George T. Stagg, who built the most dominant American distillery of the 19th century during the Gilded Age of bourbon, and the Jr. acknowledged that this whiskey ages for nearly a decade rather than the fifteen to nineteen years of its famous older sibling, George T. Stagg from the Buffalo Trace Antique Collection. It is built on Buffalo Trace's low rye Mash Bill #1 and rested in heavily charred new American oak in the distillery's metal clad warehouses, then bottled with nothing added and nothing taken away. At 131.1 proof the whiskey is uncompromising. It pours a deep mahogany. The nose is powerful and concentrated, with dark caramel, brown sugar and black cherry over charred oak, pipe tobacco and warm baking spice. The palate is dense and oily, delivering the rich, sweet chocolate and brown sugar flavours the line is known for in balance with bold rye spiciness, joined by molasses, leather and cracked pepper with commanding heat. The finish is boundless, lingering with cherries, cloves and a wisp of smoke long after the sip. At this strength water is genuinely useful, and a few drops or a large cube unlock real sweetness. As a 2020 release from the Jr. era, now several batches removed from shelves, it has become a scarce bottle for collectors working through the series.
ABV / Proof
| ABV |
65.55% |
| Proof |
131.1 |
| Size |
750ml |
| Country |
United States |
| Region |
Kentucky |
| Type |
Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, Barrel Proof |
| Batch |
15 (Fall 2020 release) |
| Distillery |
Buffalo Trace Distillery, Frankfort, Kentucky |
| Producer |
Sazerac Company |
| Mashbill |
Buffalo Trace Mash Bill #1 (low rye) |
| Age |
Approximately 8 to 9 years |
| Filtration |
Uncut and unfiltered |
| Bottling Code |
L20 |
Tasting Notes
Color: Deep mahogany.
Nose: Dark caramel, brown sugar and black cherry over charred oak, pipe tobacco and warm baking spice.
Palate: Dense and oily, with rich sweet chocolate and brown sugar balanced by bold rye spice, molasses, leather and cracked pepper.
Finish: Boundless, lingering with cherries, cloves and smokiness.
FAQ
What proof is Stagg Jr. Batch 15?
Batch 15 is bottled at 131.1 proof (65.55% ABV), uncut and unfiltered.
How do I confirm I have Batch 15?
The batch number is printed on the label, and the laser code reads L20 for the 2020 bottling. Batch 14 also carries L20 but was bottled at 130.2 proof, so the proof separates them.
Why does this bottle say Stagg Jr.?
Buffalo Trace used the Jr. name until Batch 17. From Batch 18 onward the whiskey has been sold simply as Stagg.
How does it compare to George T. Stagg?
George T. Stagg is the extra aged Antique Collection release. Stagg Jr. is the younger expression at roughly eight to nine years, released more frequently.
How should I drink it?
Try it neat first, then add a few drops of water or a large ice cube to soften the strength and open up the sweetness.
Where can I buy Stagg Jr. Batch 15 online?
Available here at Liquor On Broadway while stock lasts, with fast insured shipping nationwide.
