Stagg Jr Bourbon Batch 26B Review: Will This Be the Triumphant Return?

“Be bold enough to live life on your terms, and never, ever apologize for it.”

–Mandy Hale

Little information ever follows the often unannounced arrival of a new Stagg Jr batch. It's part of the reason why I've dedicated a significant portion of my writing time to cover the ups and downs of this sometimes vaunted release. While there has been much debate lately on consistency, both in terms of general quality and bottle-to-bottle variation, one thing has remained relatively constant through the years: the cost.

Stagg Junior (yes, I still use the Junior) represents great value for folks who are into cask-strength Kentucky bourbon. It has solid age on it, which unfortunately we only know from experienced tasters trying it and estimating, since Buffalo Trace does not offer clear stats on their labels or website information. The flavors are typically bold and boisterous on this pour; it's one that even inexperienced tasters should be finding some specific tasting notes on. If you're one of those sensory description skeptics, perhaps this is a bottle to try. While I still recognize that access is still a limiting factor, if you find this on a shelf for anything near MSRP, it's a buy all day for me for any new batch. They seem to be coming around in better numbers these days, but perhaps that's just my new whiskey hunting tendencies. I go to a gym that happens to be right next to an awesome liquor store in my home state, so I pop in six out of the seven days of the week typically. That helps with the access part.

As for the quality distinction, that's where the reviews come in. You also have to take a "believability score" into consideration when reading any review. A few questions you could ask yourself as you think through the believability of any whiskey review you encounter might be:

"Did this person get a bottle for free?"

"Does the reviewer have an ongoing business relationship with the producer?"

"Has this reviewer tasted enough of this category to know the full range of quality?"

For me, I have been thoughtfully tasting whiskey for over a decade, and writing about it professionally since 2018. I always disclose if and when I have received a bottle for free in my reviews, as well as when there is a paid partnership involved, which is incredibly rare. In terms of Stagg experience, I've tasted nearly every batch at this point. You might call reviewing Stagg my shtick. I encourage you to think about believability going forward; it's helped me tremendously in my work life. You've stuck with me this far, dear reader; shall we venture into the whiskey?

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Company on Label: Buffalo Trace Distillery, Frankfort, KY

Whiskey Type: Kentucky straight bourbon whiskey

Mash Bill Percentages: Undisclosed Buffalo Trace mash bill # 1 (high corn, low rye, malted barley)

Proof: 125.2° (62.6%)

Age: NAS (though rumored to typically be around 8 years old)

Buy Online: Frootbat

Further identification: Batch 26B of Stagg first released in the Summer of 2026

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Nose: After a longer-than-intended rest in the glass, my nose finds an open barn door giving off faint hay aromas before a sweeter bouquet blooms from that warm, earthy bed. Classic Stagg Junior cherry and cinnamon tones give me some confidence that this is going to be an enjoyable pour. Black pepper, molasses, gingerbread cookie, and dark caramel come together in a classic bourbon profile that fills my nostrils with clean bliss. Long inhales are soft and easy, presenting no trace of a harsh edge or ethanol at all. It's that "just right" porridge, with oodles of caramel tones to enjoy.

After a sip, vanilla frosting cakes every surface of the glass with another easy profile that continues to be vibrant and alive in the glass. Cherry cordial returns with more exploration, my favorite part of this pour. Sniff too long, though, and the glass might go cold on you as it has for me. The empty glencairn smells of pancake batter and lovely milk chocolate.

Palate: My first sip is a bigger punch than I was expecting based on the gentleness of the nose, but this is a cask strength bourbon after all. The mouthfeel is thick and elegant, like a gourmet dessert prepared by an expert chef. This particular dessert consists of red velvet cake with a creamy drizzle, adorned with a sweet red raspberry for flavor and presentation. It's layered like a dessert too. Lovely. Subsequent sips continue to amplify the experience and impress all of my senses. Sipping this feels like waking up on the right side of the bed, finding a surprise hundred dollar bill in your pocket, and getting an unprompted compliment from a stranger all at once. It's like a good day that just keeps getting better. Sipping near the bottom of the glass reveals the same sticky, thick caramel bliss the glass started with. The last dregs of the glass finish strong with amaretto, cinnamon, peach, and cranberry. This has been a lovely dram from start to finish.

TL;DR: Big, bold, beautiful flavors like Stagg has been known for for over a decade

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Rating: 4/5

Really good. I want one of these on my shelf.

Finally, a proper callback to the Stagg Jr days of old. A return to form, if you will. This is the Stagg team figuring it out again: the right barrels at the right time with the right flavor profile. I hope they can continue to capture the magic that they pulled off with 26B for many years to come. While this still won't dethrone the likes of the elder George T. Stagg release, it does represent an incredible value for fans of bold Kentucky bourbon. It handily earns the "Keep Amongst the Whiskey" distinction as I am hunting backups with conviction right now.

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WRITTEN BY: NICK ANDERSON

With over a decade of sipping experience, Nick Anderson brings a well-calibrated palate to his profound passion for the whiskey industry. Beginning with Irish whiskey before expanding into bourbon, rye, and beyond, he has long been taking the ephemeral observation of unspoken enjoyment and translating it into meaningful words. He is the owner and primary long-winded whiskey writer for AmongstTheWhiskey.com, and he hopes you find resonance in the patient conveyance of an honest whiskey review.

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