Stagg began as Stagg Jr. in 2013 and dropped the "Jr." with Batch 18 in 2022; Buffalo Trace now issues two to three batches a year, each marked by the two-digit year plus a letter. Batch 25A opened the 2025 run, and it is the one drinkers describe as the fiery, high-heat release — the batch where Stagg's signature intensity is most pronounced. With 25A on the shelf, the full 2025 set (25A through 25D) is complete, which is part of what makes the opening batch worth holding for anyone collecting the run in order. It is released in limited, allocated quantities, and it is worth remembering this is the Stagg line, not the once-a-year George T. Stagg of the Antique Collection. As the first and hottest entry of the year, 25A is a natural anchor for a batch-by-batch, collectible vertical.

Pour it neat in a Glencairn and let it rest for a few minutes; at 126.5 proof this is the hot one, so a few drops of water go a long way toward opening the caramel and dark cherry and softening the heat. A large ice cube works for a slower pour, but give it a chance neat first — the oak and espresso depth show best with just a little water.

Batch 25A is built on Buffalo Trace's Mash Bill #1, the distillery's low-rye recipe (exact grain percentages are not published). The whiskey is aged in new charred American oak and reported at roughly 8 to 9 years, with no official age statement, then bottled uncut at 126.5 proof (63.25% ABV) and non-chill-filtered. Keeping the natural barrel oils and esters is what gives the batch its dense texture and concentrated flavor — and, at this strength, its pronounced heat. Within the 2025 run, 25A is the high-heat opener: oak, spice, and dark fruit are pushed to the front, and the proof is felt.

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What makes Stagg Batch 25A different?

Batch 25A is the first of Buffalo Trace's four 2025 batches and the one reviewers single out as the fiery, high-heat release of the run. It is bottled uncut and unfiltered at 126.5 proof (63.25% ABV), with a deep mahogany color and an oak-, spice-, and dark-fruit-forward profile that leans into Stagg's signature heat.

How should I drink Stagg Batch 25A?

At 126.5 proof it drinks hot, so most people start it neat in a Glencairn and let it rest, then add a few drops of water to open the caramel and dark cherry and tame the heat. It is uncut and unfiltered, so the texture is dense and the flavors concentrated.