Stagg Batch 26A Bourbon
The Stats
- Distillery: Buffalo Trace Distillery
- Location: Frankfort, KY
- Type: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
- Batch: 26A
- Age: NAS
- Proof: 129.3 (64.65% ALC/VOL)
- Mash Bill: Undisclosed
- Filtration: Unfiltered
- Release: Limited / Batched
- Price: $75
There is a point where more proof stops automatically making a bourbon better. Stagg Batch 26A gets pretty close to that line.
At 129.3 proof, this is the biggest of the first three Stagg releases of 2026, and you know it almost immediately. There is more punch, more spice, and more of that high-proof intensity we tend to want from Stagg. Scott actually picked it as his favorite of the three in our blind tasting. Arthur had it second.
That split is probably the most interesting thing about 26A. The proof gives this batch a lot of personality, but depending on your palate, it can also start getting in the way of everything underneath it.
The Whiskey Behind the Bottle
Stagg has built its reputation on being the bigger, less restrained side of Buffalo Trace bourbon. No dilution. No attempt to sand down the edges. The point is to let the whiskey show up with all of its proof, oak, sweetness, and spice intact. Batch 26A pushes pretty hard in that direction at 129.3 proof.
That number matters because this isn’t a batch where the proof disappears into the background. It shapes the whole experience. There is more weight, more spice, and more intensity, but it also takes a little more work to get to everything underneath it. That tradeoff became the defining part of 26A for us.
Tasting Notes
Aroma
Brown sugar, caramel, vanilla, and dark fruit lead the nose, with oak and baking spice underneath. It also has a dessert quality, almost graham cracker and darker caramel, as it opens up. The proof is noticeable, but it stays pretty controlled on the nose.
Taste
The palate is richer and more forceful. Dark fruit, caramel, baking spice, and barrel char come through first, followed by oak and leather. Then the 129.3 proof starts to take over.
That extra intensity is part of what Scott liked about 26A, but Arthur felt it came with a tradeoff. There is good flavor underneath it, but you have to work a little harder to get there. That was really the divide for us. Scott liked the punch. Arthur thought it cost the whiskey some depth.
Finish
The finish stays warm and spice-forward, with oak, cinnamon, pepper, and lingering dark fruit. It has plenty of length, but the proof remains part of the experience throughout.
Artfully Bourbon Rating
8 / 10 - Very Good
We both landed at an 8, but for slightly different reasons.
Scott's favorite of the first three 2026 batches was 26A. He liked the extra proof, intensity, and punch.
Arthur had it behind 26C. At 129.3 proof, some of that intensity starts to compete with the flavor instead of adding to it.
That is really the story of 26A. It is a very good Stagg with plenty of weight and character. Your preference just depends on how much proof you want driving the experience.
Buy or Skip:
Buy
Especially near retail. 26A gives you the big, high-proof Stagg experience without feeling like a novelty bottle. It has enough richness and structure to make it worth picking up, especially if you prefer your bourbon more intense.
We wouldn't chase it at a big markup, but close to retail, it is an easy buy.
Where Does It Rank?
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