{"product_id":"stagg-batch-18","title":"Stagg Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Batch 18","description":"\u003cstyle\u003e\n.mw-master-container{\n  --mw-accent: #A45229;   \/* metallic foil  *\/\n  --mw-glow:   #C03929;   \/* power color    *\/\n  --mw-bg:     #030302;   \/* deep lowlight  *\/\n  --mw-text:#e0e0e0; --mw-muted:#b8b8b8; --mw-hair:#222;\n  font-family: inherit; background:var(--mw-bg); color:var(--mw-text);\n  line-height:1.7; padding:24px; margin-bottom:60px;\n}\n.mw-master-container .mw-h3{ color:var(--mw-accent); font-weight:bold; text-transform:uppercase;\n  font-size:0.9rem; letter-spacing:2px; margin-top:40px; display:block;\n  border-bottom:1px solid var(--mw-glow); padding-bottom:8px; margin-bottom:20px; }\n.mw-master-container .mw-accent{ color:var(--mw-accent); font-weight:bold; text-decoration:none; }\n.mw-master-container .mw-accent:hover{ color:#fff; text-decoration:underline; }\n.mw-master-container .mw-info-box{ background:linear-gradient(90deg, var(--mw-bg) 0%, var(--mw-glow) 100%);\n  padding:25px; margin:25px 0; border-radius:0 4px 4px 0; border:1px solid var(--mw-hair);\n  border-left:4px solid var(--mw-accent); }\n.mw-master-container .mw-grid{ display:grid; grid-template-columns:1fr 1fr; gap:30px; margin:30px 0; }\n.mw-master-container .mw-card{ background:rgba(255,255,255,0.02); padding:25px;\n  border:1px solid var(--mw-glow); border-radius:4px; }\n.mw-master-container .mw-table{ width:100%; border-collapse:collapse; margin-top:15px; }\n.mw-master-container .mw-table td{ padding:14px 0; border-bottom:1px solid var(--mw-hair);\n  color:#ccc; font-size:0.95rem; }\n.mw-master-container .mw-table td:first-child{ font-weight:bold; width:38%; color:var(--mw-accent);\n  text-transform:uppercase; font-size:0.75rem; letter-spacing:1px; }\n.mw-master-container details{ background:rgba(255,255,255,0.03); border:1px solid var(--mw-hair);\n  border-radius:4px; margin-bottom:15px; }\n.mw-master-container summary{ padding:18px; color:var(--mw-accent); font-weight:bold; cursor:pointer;\n  outline:none; list-style:none; display:flex; justify-content:space-between; align-items:center;\n  text-transform:uppercase; letter-spacing:1px; font-size:0.85rem; }\n.mw-master-container summary::after{ content:'+'; font-size:1.2rem; }\n.mw-master-container details[open]{ border:1px solid var(--mw-accent); }\n.mw-master-container details[open] summary::after{ content:'-'; }\n.mw-master-container .details-content{ padding:0 20px 20px 20px; font-size:0.95rem; }\n@media (max-width:768px){ .mw-master-container .mw-grid{ grid-template-columns:1fr; } }\n\u003c\/style\u003e\n\n\u003cdiv class=\"mw-master-container\"\u003e\n\n  \u003cdiv class=\"speakable\"\u003e\n    \u003cp\u003eBatch 18 is the bottle where Buffalo Trace dropped the \"Jr.\" — the first release branded simply \"Stagg\" (Batch 17 was the last \"Stagg Jr.\"). It is a Buffalo Trace Kentucky bourbon at 131 proof (65.5% ABV), uncut and unfiltered, and still carries the old running batch number, before the year-letter codes began. Its 2022 release was held up by an industry glass shortage; no grain recipe or age is published.\u003c\/p\u003e\n  \u003c\/div\u003e\n\n  \u003cspan class=\"mw-h3\"\u003eThe Elemental Distinction\u003c\/span\u003e\n  \u003cdiv class=\"mw-info-box\"\u003e\n    \u003cul style=\"margin:0; padding-left:20px; font-size:0.95rem;\"\u003e\n      \u003cli\u003eAt barrel strength — 131 proof, 65.5% ABV — bottled with no water added and no chill-filtration.\u003c\/li\u003e\n      \u003cli\u003eThe first batch branded just \"Stagg\": Buffalo Trace dropped the \"Jr.\" here, after Batch 17, the last \"Stagg Jr.\"\u003c\/li\u003e\n      \u003cli\u003eA transitional release — it kept the old running number (18), before the year-and-letter codes (22B onward) began.\u003c\/li\u003e\n      \u003cli\u003eIts 2022 release was delayed by that year's industry-wide glass shortage.\u003c\/li\u003e\n      \u003cli\u003eBuffalo Trace bourbon (DSP-KY-113, Frankfort, Kentucky) on the low-rye Mash Bill #1 — grain split undisclosed; non-age-stated, with a seven-to-nine-year estimate.\u003c\/li\u003e\n    \u003c\/ul\u003e\n  \u003c\/div\u003e\n\n  \u003cdiv class=\"mw-grid\"\u003e\n    \u003cdiv class=\"mw-card\"\u003e\n      \u003cspan class=\"mw-accent\" style=\"font-size:0.75rem; text-transform:uppercase; letter-spacing:1px;\"\u003eSensory Profile\u003c\/span\u003e\n      \u003cdiv style=\"margin-top:20px; font-size:0.9rem;\"\u003e\n        \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eNose:\u003c\/strong\u003e More restrained than the classic Stagg profile — oak, vanilla, and caramel with maple and brown sugar, and only a little of the cherry the line is traditionally known for.\u003c\/p\u003e\n        \u003cp style=\"margin-top:10px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePalate:\u003c\/strong\u003e Oak-driven and robust, with molasses, brown sugar, and deep baking spice rolling over a firm barrel char; the bright cherry-cola fruit sweetness of alternative batches is muted here.\u003c\/p\u003e\n        \u003cp style=\"margin-top:10px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFinish:\u003c\/strong\u003e Warm and oak-led, brown sugar and spice trailing off cleanly, with less of the heavy fruit sweetness on the exit.\u003c\/p\u003e\n      \u003c\/div\u003e\n    \u003c\/div\u003e\n    \u003cdiv class=\"mw-card\"\u003e\n      \u003cspan class=\"mw-accent\" style=\"font-size:0.75rem; text-transform:uppercase; letter-spacing:1px;\"\u003eStrategic Position\u003c\/span\u003e\n      \u003cp style=\"font-size:0.90rem; margin-top:20px;\"\u003eBatch 18 remains a landmark in the line's history: the first release to drop the \"Jr.\" and carry the name \"Stagg\" on its own. It is a historical hinge between two systems — it kept the old running batch number, while the next release, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/stagg-batch-22b\" class=\"mw-accent\"\u003ethe lettered Batch 22B\u003c\/a\u003e, introduced the year-and-letter codes. On flavor, reviewers read it as a departure from the classic fruit-forward Stagg profile, leaning more restrained and oak-driven. Browse \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/whiskey\" class=\"mw-accent\"\u003eour barrel-proof bourbon shelf\u003c\/a\u003e for the batches that followed.\u003c\/p\u003e\n    \u003c\/div\u003e\n  \u003c\/div\u003e\n\n  \u003cspan class=\"mw-h3\"\u003eTechnical Specifications\u003c\/span\u003e\n  \u003ctable class=\"mw-table\"\u003e\u003ctbody\u003e\n    \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDistillery\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBuffalo Trace Distillery (DSP-KY-113), Frankfort, KY\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n    \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eProducer\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSazerac Company\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n    \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCategory\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eKentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n    \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eProof \/ ABV\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e131 proof · 65.5% ABV (barrel proof)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n    \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBatch\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e18 (old running-number system)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n    \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMash Bill\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBuffalo Trace low-rye Mash Bill #1 — exact grain % not disclosed\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n    \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAge Statement\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNone (non-age-stated)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n    \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eFiltration\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eUnfiltered\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n    \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eRelease\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBatch 18 — 2022 (Winter\/late 2022; delayed by glass shortage)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n    \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDistinction\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eFirst release branded \"Stagg\" (no \"Jr.\")\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n    \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBottle Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e750 ml\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n    \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eOrigin\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eUnited States · Kentucky\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n  \u003c\/tbody\u003e\u003c\/table\u003e\n\n  \u003cspan class=\"mw-h3\"\u003eCollector Note\u003c\/span\u003e\n  \u003cp style=\"font-size:0.95rem; margin-bottom:15px;\"\u003eFor collectors, Batch 18 is a core milestone marker: the first bottle to wear the \"Stagg\" name without \"Jr.,\" which makes it the start of the rebranded era. It is doubly transitional — the last to use the old running batch number before the lettered codes arrived — and its 2022 release was thinned by a glass shortage. Older \"Stagg Jr.\" bottles (Batch 17 and back) are the prior chapter. Given its place in the line's history, it is worth keeping well: stand it upright, out of heat and light, with the seal intact.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n  \u003cspan class=\"mw-h3\"\u003eRecommended Serving\u003c\/span\u003e\n  \u003cp style=\"font-size:0.95rem; margin-bottom:25px;\"\u003eAt 131 proof, start with a neat pour to read the oak-and-spice core, then add a little water or a cube to coax out what sweetness there is. This is a more restrained Stagg, so it rewards patience in the glass. Keep it at room temperature; chilling only deadens what fruit is there.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n  \u003cdetails\u003e\n    \u003csummary\u003eProduction Methodology\u003c\/summary\u003e\n    \u003cdiv class=\"details-content\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe recipe behind Batch 18 follows the historic build — Buffalo Trace's low-rye Mash Bill #1 from Frankfort, Kentucky, grain ratio undisclosed — bottled from the barrel, unfiltered, at 131 proof. What changed with this batch was only the label template: \"Stagg\" without the \"Jr.,\" keeping the same raw whiskey inside. The bottle is non-age-stated, with maturity estimated in the high single digits.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n  \u003c\/details\u003e\n  \u003cdetails\u003e\n    \u003csummary\u003eAuthentication \u0026amp; Vault Preservation\u003c\/summary\u003e\n    \u003cdiv class=\"details-content\"\u003e\n      \u003cp\u003eMidnight 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 \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/authentication\" class=\"mw-accent\"\u003everifying each bottle we sell\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/vault-concierge\" class=\"mw-accent\"\u003ekeeping and shipping your bottle\u003c\/a\u003e, and \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/editorial-standards\" class=\"mw-accent\"\u003ethe bar each listing clears\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n    \u003c\/div\u003e\n  \u003c\/details\u003e\n  \u003cdetails\u003e\n    \u003csummary\u003eFrequently Asked Questions\u003c\/summary\u003e\n    \u003cdiv class=\"details-content\"\u003e\n      \u003cp style=\"margin-bottom:6px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat proof is Stagg Batch 18?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n      \u003cp style=\"margin-bottom:18px;\"\u003eBatch 18 carries 131 proof — 65.5% ABV — on its label, bottled at barrel strength and unfiltered. The proof is whatever the barrels reached, with no water added to even it out, so it shifts from batch to batch; 131 lands on the higher side of the recent releases. Barrel proof simply means nothing is added to bring the strength down to a set number.\u003c\/p\u003e\n      \u003cp style=\"margin-bottom:6px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhy is Stagg Batch 18 significant?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n      \u003cp\u003eBatch 18 was the first release to carry the name \"Stagg\" without \"Jr.\" — Buffalo Trace dropped the \"Jr.\" designation starting with this batch, with Batch 17 the last labeled \"Stagg Jr.\" It still used the old running batch number; the year-and-letter codes, like 22B, began with the next release. Its launch was also delayed by the 2022 industry-wide glass shortage.\u003c\/p\u003e\n    \u003c\/div\u003e\n  \u003c\/details\u003e\n\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\n\u003cscript type=\"application\/ld+json\"\u003e\n{\n  \"@context\": \"https:\/\/schema.org\",\n  \"@graph\": [\n    {\n      \"@type\": \"Product\",\n      \"@id\": \"https:\/\/www.midnightwhiskey.com\/products\/stagg-batch-18#product\",\n      \"name\": \"Stagg Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Batch 18\",\n      \"image\": \"https:\/\/www.midnightwhiskey.com\/cdn\/shop\/files\/stagg-batch-18.jpg\",\n      \"description\": \"Stagg Batch 18 is a barrel-proof Kentucky straight bourbon from Buffalo Trace Distillery, bottled uncut and unfiltered at 65.5% ABV (131 proof); the first release branded Stagg without Jr.\",\n      \"sku\": \"088004018580-18\",\n      \"mpn\": \"088004018580-18\",\n      \"brand\": { \"@type\": \"Brand\", \"name\": \"Buffalo Trace\" },\n      \"category\": \"Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey\",\n      \"offers\": {\n        \"@type\": \"Offer\",\n        \"@id\": \"https:\/\/www.midnightwhiskey.com\/products\/stagg-batch-18#offer\",\n        \"url\": \"https:\/\/www.midnightwhiskey.com\/products\/stagg-batch-18\",\n        \"priceCurrency\": \"USD\",\n        \"price\": \"189.95\",\n        \"availability\": \"https:\/\/schema.org\/InStock\",\n        \"itemCondition\": \"https:\/\/schema.org\/NewCondition\",\n        \"seller\": { \"@type\": \"Organization\", \"name\": \"Midnight Whiskey\" }\n      }\n    },\n    {\n      \"@type\": \"BreadcrumbList\",\n      \"@id\": \"https:\/\/www.midnightwhiskey.com\/products\/stagg-batch-18#breadcrumb\",\n      \"itemListElement\": [\n        { \"@type\": \"ListItem\", \"position\": 1, \"name\": \"Home\", \"item\": \"https:\/\/www.midnightwhiskey.com\" },\n        { \"@type\": \"ListItem\", \"position\": 2, \"name\": \"Whiskey\", \"item\": \"https:\/\/www.midnightwhiskey.com\/collections\/whiskey\" },\n        { \"@type\": \"ListItem\", \"position\": 3, \"name\": \"Stagg Batch 18\" }\n      ]\n    },\n    {\n      \"@type\": \"FAQPage\",\n      \"@id\": \"https:\/\/www.midnightwhiskey.com\/products\/stagg-batch-18#faq\",\n      \"mainEntity\": [\n        {\n          \"@type\": \"Question\",\n          \"name\": \"What proof is Stagg Batch 18?\",\n          \"acceptedAnswer\": { \"@type\": \"Answer\", \"text\": \"Batch 18 carries 131 proof - 65.5% ABV - on its label, bottled at barrel strength and unfiltered. 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