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Stagg vs Old Grand-Dad Bonded
Stagg and Old Grand-Dad Bonded sit on opposite sides of a familiar divide: an undiluted barrel-strength pour versus an old-guard, rye-forward classic.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Stagg | Old Grand-Dad Bonded |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Traditional Bourbon, Barrel Proof | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 78% corn, 10% rye, 12% malted barley | 63% corn, 27% rye, 10% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | 4 years |
| Proof | 130 proof (65% ABV) +30 proof | 100 proof (50% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$70 – $120 | ~$24 – $30 ~$68 less |
| Availability | Limited | Widely available easier to find |
- Stagg and Old Grand-Dad Bonded do not publish an official mash bill.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.
Old Grand-Dad Bonded
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Flavor Profile
Stagg Old Grand-Dad Bonded
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
oak 9/5 oak: Stagg 9 out of 10, Old Grand-Dad Bonded 5 out of 10
heat 10/6 heat: Stagg 10 out of 10, Old Grand-Dad Bonded 6 out of 10
sweetness 7/5 sweetness: Stagg 7 out of 10, Old Grand-Dad Bonded 5 out of 10
spice 7/8 spice: Stagg 7 out of 10, Old Grand-Dad Bonded 8 out of 10
fruit 5/4 fruit: Stagg 5 out of 10, Old Grand-Dad Bonded 4 out of 10
nuttiness 4/5 nuttiness: Stagg 4 out of 10, Old Grand-Dad Bonded 5 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Barrel influence is the main separator.
- 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.
- Old Grand-Dad Bonded: A bonded 100-proof high-rye bourbon for the price of a mixer, and one of the great bargains on the shelf. Cleaner and less overwhelming than the 114 while keeping the peppery rye backbone.
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 Old Grand-Dad Bonded if you want a bonded, high-rye workhorse at mixer money without hunting for it.
Best enjoyed neat (Stagg); neat, old-fashioned, cocktails (Old Grand-Dad Bonded).