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Stagg vs Bulleit Bourbon
Stagg and Bulleit Bourbon sit on opposite sides of a familiar divide: an undiluted barrel-strength pour versus a blender-built, rye-forward bottling.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Stagg | Bulleit Bourbon |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Traditional Bourbon, Barrel Proof | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 78% corn, 10% rye, 12% malted barley | 68% corn, 28% rye, 4% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | No age statement |
| Proof | 130 proof (65% ABV) +40 proof | 90 proof (45% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$70 – $120 | ~$25 – $32 ~$67 less |
| Availability | Limited | Widely available easier to find |
- Stagg does not publish an official mash bill.
- US shelf prices as of 2026-08; they vary widely by market.
AG’s Rating and AG’s Notes
Stagg
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Bulleit Bourbon
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Stagg Bulleit Bourbon
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
heat 10/4 heat: Stagg 10 out of 10, Bulleit Bourbon 4 out of 10
oak 9/5 oak: Stagg 9 out of 10, Bulleit Bourbon 5 out of 10
sweetness 7/5 sweetness: Stagg 7 out of 10, Bulleit Bourbon 5 out of 10
nuttiness 4/3 nuttiness: Stagg 4 out of 10, Bulleit Bourbon 3 out of 10
spice 7/7 spice: Stagg 7 out of 10, Bulleit Bourbon 7 out of 10
fruit 5/5 fruit: Stagg 5 out of 10, Bulleit Bourbon 5 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Proof and heat dominate the difference.
- Stagg: Uncut and unfiltered Buffalo Trace at a proof that demands respect. Dark chocolate, espresso and charred oak arrive with genuine heat, and a few drops of water unlock a surprising amount of fruit.
- Bulleit Bourbon: The bottle that put high-rye bourbon in every cocktail bar in the country. Peppery and dry with the familiar MGP dill note, and it earns its place behind the bar more than in a glass on its own.
Which One Should You Choose?
- Go with Stagg if you want the biggest, hottest, most concentrated expression of the Buffalo Trace profile with significantly more proof behind it.
- Go with Bulleit Bourbon if you want a dry, peppery, high-rye bourbon built for cocktails and available absolutely everywhere at a significantly lower price point.
Best enjoyed neat (Stagg); old-fashioned, cocktails, highball (Bulleit Bourbon).