Stagg Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Batch 23C
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That is the lowest proof of any Stagg released so far. The line dropped "Jr." from "Stagg Jr." around 2021, and no recipe or age is published. The Elemental Distinction The lowest-proof Stagg to date — 125.9 proof (62.95% ABV) — bottled from the barrel, uncut and unfiltered. The Winter 2023 release, and the third Stagg batch of that year — the first time the line was issued three times in one year. A Buffalo Trace bourbon from Frankfort, Kentucky (DSP-KY-113); the distillery was once the George T. Stagg Distillery and is owned by Sazerac. Buffalo Trace's low-rye Mash Bill #1, with the grain split undisclosed. No age statement on the bottle; reviewers estimate roughly eight to nine years in oak. Sensory Profile Nose: Red velvet cake and a thick, dark sweetness of cherry and blackberry, with candied pecans and toasted oak behind. Reviewers note a baking-spice lead — cinnamon, a touch of anise. At 125.9 proof it is more approachable than a typical Stagg, though still warm. Palate: Caramel and dark chocolate with cinnamon and white pepper up front, then fig, licorice, and a little leather over oak. The lower strength keeps the heat in check. Finish: Medium, on warm baking spice, oak, and a dark-fruit sweetness; a few drops of water round it further. Strategic Position 23C's headline is its strength: at 125.9 proof it is the lowest-proof Stagg to date, a gentler entry point into a line that usually runs higher. Stagg itself is Buffalo Trace's lettered-batch barrel-proof bourbon — the year-round counterpart to the annual George T. Stagg — and since each batch is bottled at the proof it reached in the barrel, the number moves release to release. The Winter 2023 23C also closed the first year the line ran three batches. Compare the Summer 2024 batch that came next at 127.6 proof, or browse our Kentucky bourbon collection. Technical Specifications Distillery Buffalo Trace Distillery (DSP-KY-113), Frankfort, KY Producer Sazerac Company Category Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Proof / ABV 125.9 proof · 62.95% ABV (barrel proof) Batch 23C Mash Bill Buffalo Trace low-rye Mash Bill #1 — exact grain % not disclosed Age Statement None (non-age-stated) Filtration Unfiltered Release Batch 23C — Winter 2023 (third 2023 batch) Distinction Lowest-proof Stagg release to date Bottle Size 750 ml Origin United States · Kentucky Collector Note For collectors, 23C carries two markers: it is the lowest-proof Stagg to date at 125.9, and it was the third 2023 batch — the first year Stagg was released three times. As always, the lower-label batch code is what fixes a bottle to its release, so keep that label clean. Long-term, a dark, cool spot and an unbroken seal hold the bottle best. Recommended Serving At 125.9 proof this is among the easier Staggs to take neat, so start there to read the barrel character, then add a little water or a cube to open the cake-and-dark-fruit sweetness. Keep it at room temperature; cold tightens the oak and spice. Production Methodology Like every Stagg, 23C is a Buffalo Trace bourbon on the distillery's low-rye Mash Bill #1 — the grain percentages unpublished — bottled straight from the barrel and left unfiltered, so it keeps the oils and full strength a chill filter would cut. What is unusual here is the number: at 125.9 proof it is the lowest-strength Stagg to date, where the line usually runs higher. The bottle carries no age statement; reviewers place the maturity around eight or nine years. 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 each bottle is authenticated, how bottles are stored and shipped, and what we require of every listing. Frequently Asked Questions What proof is Stagg Batch 23C? At 125.9 proof — 62.95% ABV — Batch 23C is the lowest-strength Stagg released so far, and it is unfiltered, as the 23C label shows. The proof comes straight from the barrel, with no water added to standardize it, so each batch reads differently; 23C is the low mark. The 2024 batches that followed, by contrast, sat between 127.4 and 128.9 proof. Is Stagg Batch 23C really the lowest-proof Stagg? Yes — at 125.9 proof (62.95% ABV), Batch 23C is the lowest-proof Stagg release to date; earlier batches have all come in higher. It was also the third Stagg batch of 2023, the first year the line was issued three times. The lower strength makes it a touch more approachable than a typical Stagg, though it is still a barrel-proof, uncut, unfiltered bourbon from Buffalo Trace.
