Stagg Jr Bourbon Batch 11 Review: Were the Older Batches Just... Better?
- Nick Anderson
- 1 hour ago
- 3 min read
“A life is not important except in the impact it has on other lives.”
– Jackie Robinson
The unconditional kindness and proclivity towards sharing that is inherent in the whiskey community is one of my favorite parts about being in this industry. It's the direct message that turns into a dear friend—when someone goes above and beyond to help you expand your palate and experience because that is simply what brings them joy. That's what I got from striking up a conversation with @Woodfordbourbonguy on Instagram, running into someone with a Stagg Jr collection that rivals even mine and a generosity that is undeniable. I'm deeply grateful Jay was willing to share some of his bottles with me for the purposes of this review, and there will be more to come from him in the future!
Company on Label: Buffalo Trace Distillery, Frankfort, Kentucky
Whiskey Type: Kentucky straight bourbon whiskey
Mash Bill Percentages: Undisclosed Buffalo Trace mash bill # 1 (high corn, low rye, malted barley)
Proof: 127.9° (63.95%)
Age: NAS (generally assumed to be 8-12 years)
MSRP: $50
Further identification: This is batch 11 of Stagg bourbon, which first released in the winter of 2018
Nose: On first lifting the glass, I smell classic old Kentucky bourbon funk. It immediately reminds me of batch 18 as well as 25B which both notably had this characteristic. Light and sweet earthy moss and chocolate aromas blow in delicately next, as calm as a shifting spring breeze, never brutal or pushy in the nose. There is plenty of wood to be found on long inhales, a hallmark of solid age and consistent distillate. I'm most impressed by how balanced this is presenting for a 127.9 proof bourbon. Subtle layers of warm vanilla sugar cookie, leather, and tobacco breathe an air of sophistication. After a sip, the nose stays quite consistent, with the main chorus still singing along before a new layer of caramel slowly evolves. As my glencairn runs low, I find a strong return to the barrel funk where we started out at, still supported by a strong cast of vanilla and chocolate tones, which reminds me a bit of Batch 17 just with a bit less complexity and overall depth. The empty glass smells of old wood church pews, sweet corn, and butter.
Palate: My first sip of the day reveals beautiful layers of sweet maraschino cherry, raspberry tart, and candied cinnamon that ooze, bubble, and pop all across the tongue. A second sip is a little smoother and more concentrated in the tip and center of the tongue before washing towards the sides and rolling back to complete the sweet and syrupy mouth coating. This is just like taking a spoonful of maraschino cherry juice down, but with more oomph and complexity coming along with it. Tasting through later in the glass remains consistent and enjoyable, with a buzzing booziness depositing all the fruit tones on my taste buds—think E.H. Taylor small batch meets Eagle Rare with a lot more punch here. My last sip is a delicious medley of chocolate-covered strawberries, angel food cake, cinnamon, and whipped cream.
TL;DR: A classic Stagg Jr profile that delivers with both grace and fruity pizzazz
Rating: 4/5
I loved this batch and am so grateful to have been able to try it. With the proximity to the legendary Batch 12, it's no surprise this one has flown under the radar for most of the whiskey community. Layer in the fact that it is now a seven-and-a-half-year-old bottle, and I'm not surprised it's not part of the discussions happening today, though I think it is important to have some historical context as whiskey reviewers like myself approach the modern releases. You'll see a stark contrast to my notes on 26A thanks to that simple wisdom of experience.
Tasting through this one proves Buffalo Trace used to be relatively consistent with their blending methodologies, given all the comparisons to other batches from this era. It's experiences like these that make you wonder what is happening with all the variability in the 2025 and 2026 batches, which you can see shaking out pretty poorly over on the Stagg Hub.
So were the older Stagg Jr releases just better? The answer is "not always," but after this tasting, I can tell you that Batch 11 is definitely one of the better ones. Cheers!
