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Stagg vs Willett Pot Still Reserve
Stagg and Willett Pot Still Reserve sit on opposite sides of a familiar divide: an undiluted barrel-strength pour versus a new-wave, classically built craft style.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Stagg | Willett Pot Still Reserve |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Traditional Bourbon, Barrel Proof | Traditional Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 78% corn, 10% rye, 12% malted barley | Not disclosed |
| Age | No age statement | No age statement |
| Proof | 130 proof (65% ABV) +36 proof | 94 proof (47% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$70 – $120 | ~$45 – $60 ~$43 less |
| Availability | Limited | Widely available easier to find |
- Stagg and Willett Pot Still Reserve do not publish an official mash bill.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.
Willett Pot Still Reserve
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Stagg Willett Pot Still Reserve
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
heat 10/4 heat: Stagg 10 out of 10, Willett Pot Still Reserve 4 out of 10
oak 9/6 oak: Stagg 9 out of 10, Willett Pot Still Reserve 6 out of 10
spice 7/5 spice: Stagg 7 out of 10, Willett Pot Still Reserve 5 out of 10
fruit 5/6 fruit: Stagg 5 out of 10, Willett Pot Still Reserve 6 out of 10
sweetness 7/7 sweetness: Stagg 7 out of 10, Willett Pot Still Reserve 7 out of 10
nuttiness 4/4 nuttiness: Stagg 4 out of 10, Willett Pot Still Reserve 4 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.
- Willett Pot Still Reserve: Famous first for the pot-still-shaped decanter and second for the whiskey, which is a fair ordering. Pleasant, sweet and fruit-leaning, with a good deal of the price attached to the glass.
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 Willett Pot Still Reserve if you want a distinctive bottle on the shelf and an easy, fruit-forward pour inside it at a significantly lower price point.
Best enjoyed neat (Stagg); neat, rocks (Willett Pot Still Reserve).