Stagg Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Batch 23A
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Regular price $229.95
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Age: NAS (Non-Age Stated) | Region: Kentucky, USA | Proof: 130.2
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Batch 23A opened Stagg's 2023 run as the spring release — a Buffalo Trace Kentucky bourbon bottled uncut and unfiltered, straight from the barrel, at 130.2 proof (65.1% ABV). It is one of the higher-strength recent batches, but reviewers found it fruit-forward and easy-drinking for its proof. The "Jr." came off the Stagg name around 2021, and Buffalo Trace keeps both the grain recipe and the age unstated.

The Elemental Distinction
  • Bottled at 130.2 proof (65.1% ABV) on the 23A label — barrel strength, uncut, and unfiltered.
  • The spring 2023 release — the first Stagg batch of that year, ahead of the fall 23B and winter 23C variants.
  • One of the higher-strength batches of the recent run; reviewers nonetheless found it drinks below its 130.2 proof, fruit-led rather than hot.
  • From the former George T. Stagg Distillery — now Buffalo Trace, in Frankfort, Kentucky (DSP-KY-113), owned by Sazerac — on the low-rye Mash Bill #1, grain split undisclosed.
  • No age statement; reviewers estimate roughly eight to nine years, and note its 130.2 proof is shared with the older Batch 14 (distinguished by laser code).
Sensory Profile

Nose: Deeply fruited — grape soda, black cherry cola, and stewed cherries, over sweet oak and a vanilla-caramel base. Several reviewers read 23A as a return to the fruit some recent batches had lost. It noses far softer than 130.2 proof suggests.

Palate: Green apple and lightly smoked maraschino over maple and a dusty, gentle funk, with cinnamon and clove for a spicy-dry edge. Full, but not hot for the strength.

Finish: Fairly quick for a barrel-proof bourbon — sweet fruit fading to oak and a little spice, part of what makes it so drinkable.

Strategic Position

23A is the high-proof end of the recent run at 130.2 — yet it earned a reputation for drinking well below that strength, fruit-forward and balanced rather than hot. As the spring 2023 release it opened the year, and several reviewers read it as a return to the fruit-led profile they felt had slipped. Stagg sets each batch at its own barrel strength, so the number shifts release to release. See the fall 23B that followed at 127.8 proof, or browse our other Kentucky bourbons.

Technical Specifications
Distillery Buffalo Trace Distillery (DSP-KY-113), Frankfort, KY
Producer Sazerac Company
Category Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Proof / ABV 130.2 proof · 65.1% ABV (barrel proof)
Batch 23A
Mash Bill Buffalo Trace low-rye Mash Bill #1 — exact grain % not disclosed
Age Statement None (non-age-stated)
Filtration Unfiltered
Release Batch 23A — Spring 2023 (first 2023 batch)
Note Same 130.2 proof as the older Batch 14 — laser code distinguishes them
Bottle Size 750 ml
Origin United States · Kentucky
Collector Note

23A holds a couple of footnotes for collectors: it opened the 2023 run as the spring release, and it was widely received as one of the better recent batches, credited with a fruit-forward return to form. Its 130.2 proof also matches the older Batch 14, so the batch and laser codes are how to be sure which you have. For the cellar, the usual applies: cool, dark, upright, unopened.

Recommended Serving

This one is approachable enough to enjoy neat despite the 130.2 proof, so begin there to catch the fruit; a few drops of water or a cube will stretch the grape-and-cherry sweetness further. Room temperature is best; cold flattens the fruit and oak.

Production Methodology

Stagg is Buffalo Trace's barrel-proof bourbon, distilled in Frankfort, Kentucky on the low-rye Mash Bill #1 — the recipe shared with George T. Stagg, grain percentages unpublished. It is drawn straight from the barrel and bottled unfiltered, which is why 23A lands at 130.2 proof and keeps the oils and body a chill filter strips. No age is stated; reviewers estimate roughly eight to nine years, and several singled this batch out for drinking unusually softly at its strength.

Authentication & Vault Preservation

Midnight Whiskey sells only bottles sourced through authorized U.S. distribution; each is checked for fill level, seal, and label integrity before it ships. Orders are packed in protective single-bottle cartons and released to adults only — delivery requires an adult 21-or-over signature. For more on how we verify each bottle, how we hold and dispatch bottles, and the rules our listings meet.

Frequently Asked Questions

What proof is Stagg Batch 23A?

Batch 23A comes in at 130.2 proof — 65.1% ABV — barrel proof and unfiltered, as the 23A label shows, putting it among the higher strengths of the recent run. "Barrel proof" means the bourbon is bottled at the strength it reached in the barrel, with no water added. The figure happens to match the older Batch 14, which the batch code and laser code distinguish.

Why do reviewers describe Stagg Batch 23A as fruit-forward?

Several trade reviews of Batch 23A highlighted a deeply fruited character — grape soda, black cherry, stewed cherries, and green apple — that some called a return to a profile recent batches had lost. Reviewers also noted that, despite its 130.2 proof, it drinks below its strength: balanced and fruit-led rather than hot. Like all Stagg, it is uncut, unfiltered, and non-age-stated.
Shipping information

Adult Signature Required: Federal law requires an adult (21+) with a valid government ID to sign for all deliveries. Carriers cannot leave alcohol unattended.

Processing Time: Most orders process within 1–8 business days. You will receive a tracking number via email as soon as your bottle ships.

Insured Shipping: We strongly recommend electing Shipping Protection at checkout. Midnight Whiskey is not liable for loss or damage once in the carrier's possession unless insurance is purchased.

Restrictions: We ship only within the permitted U.S. states and cannot deliver to P.O. Boxes or U.S. Territories.

All Sales Final: Due to alcohol regulations, we cannot accept returns for change of mind.
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