Stagg Batch 26B Bourbon
The Stats
- Distillery: Buffalo Trace Distillery
- Location: Frankfort, KY
- Type: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
- Batch: 26B
- Age: NAS
- Proof: 125.2 (62.6% ALC/VOL)
- Mash Bill: Undisclosed
- Filtration: Unfiltered
- Release: Limited / Batched
- Price: $65 MSRP
Stagg Batch 26B has an unusual problem for a 125.2-proof bourbon. It feels a little too easy.
That might sound like a compliment, and for some drinkers it probably is. But when we tasted 26A, 26B, and 26C blind, we both put 26B last. Not because it was bad. It just lacked the same depth, punch, or personality as the other two.
The Whiskey Behind the Bottle
Stagg sits in a pretty specific place inside Buffalo Trace. It is the distillery’s barrel-proof bourbon for people who want the familiar Buffalo Trace profile with more weight, more oak, and a lot more proof.
It also carries one of the strongest reputations in the lineup. New batches get compared almost immediately, and small differences in proof or balance can change how a release drinks.
Batch 26B comes in at 125.2 proof, which is still plenty of whiskey on paper. What made this one interesting for us is that it did not really drink like it. Instead of feeling especially dense or aggressive, 26B came across as softer and more approachable than we expected. That became the defining part of the bottle once we put it next to the other 2026 batches.
Tasting Notes
Aroma
Caramel, vanilla, and cherry lead the nose, with cinnamon and baking spice underneath. It is sweet and familiar, with a little oak in the background, but it does not show the darker, heavier side we often get from Stagg.
Taste
The palate stays in the same lane. Caramel and vanilla come through first, followed by dark fruit, baking spice, oak, and pepper. Nothing feels out of place. It just feels more straightforward.
That was the biggest takeaway in the blind. At 125.2 proof, we expected a little more concentration and punch. Instead, 26B drinks surprisingly easy for the proof.
Finish
The finish brings more oak and spice, with caramel and cherry hanging on underneath. It has solid warmth and enough length, but the finish adds little new to the experience.
Artfully Bourbon Rating
7 / 10 - Good
We both landed at a 7. 26B is still good bourbon. The flavors are familiar, the proof is easy to manage, and nothing about the bottle is unpleasant. It just never really separates itself.
In the blind, both of us had it behind 26A and 26C. Those bottles gave us either more intensity or more depth. 26B felt simpler and softer by comparison. That may actually make it appealing if you want a more approachable Stagg. For us, it left us wanting a little more.
Buy or Skip:
Conditional Buy
Near retail, we would still consider it. You are getting barrel-proof Stagg at 125.2 proof, and there is enough here to make it worth trying.
We just would not chase this batch or pay a meaningful markup for it. If you already know you prefer Stagg with more depth and intensity, there are stronger 2026 options.
Where Does It Rank?
Every whiskey we review is scored using the same 10-point scale, making it easy to compare bottles across styles, distilleries, and price points. Explore our complete whiskey rankings to see how every bottle stacks up.
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