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This might be the Michael Phelps of Bourbon. Eagle Rare has won the double gold metal at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition five times (and was the first bourbon ever to do so). It can be found (sometimes and if you're lucky), in 10-year, 17-year, and Double Eagle Very Rare editions.
📚Background: Originally introduced in 1975 as a 101 proof 10-year bourbon by Seagram's, Eagle Rare was an early foray into single barrel bourbons and was designed to compete directly with Wild Turkey 101. Eventually it lost the single-barrel designation, but is alleged to still be a relatively "small batch" or "select barrels" product. Along with a number of other brands, it floated from Seagram's to Old Prentice to Sazerac where it remains today, produced by Buffalo Trace. Interestingly enough, when Sazerac bought Benchmark and Eagle Rare in 1989, they didn't have their own distillery yet, so the two brands were temporarily contract produced by Heaven Hill in Bardstown, KY. Alas, that 101 proof version was discontinued in 2005. Under Buffalo Trace's management in the 2010s, what was the worlds most affordable 10-year bourbon has blossomed into an allocated phenomenon.
🧪Proof: 90 Proof, 45% Alcohol by Volume
🎨Color: R5 - A dark caramel almost pecan shell color. The bottle and logo are simple with an eagle and stars featured prominently on the front and top. Somewhat leggy.
🥔Mash Bill: Buffalo Trace Mash Bill #1 which is the low rye (10% or less) iteration, though proportions have not been disclosed. Other Buffalo Trace products using this mash bill include: Buffalo Trace Bourbon, the Benchmark whiskey series, Old Charter, most EH Taylor, and Stagg series.
Buffalo Trace uses a relatively high barrel entry poof of 125 for most of it's whiskies, which means this juice takes on a good bit of water before going in the bottle (not necessarily a bad thing, Heaven Hill and others are right there with the same entry proof) From the age statement, all whiskey involved is at least 10 years old. Single barrels are available as store picks, but the regular Eagle Rare is bottled in-series where the very end of one barrel and start of the next may be blended in a bottle. This prevents them from calling it "single barrel" but has the result that most bottles are single barrel or a slight blend of two if any.
A level 4 "alligator char" is used on the barrels and the whiskey is chill filtered before bottling.
👃Nose: Syrupy sweetness at first sniff that deepens gently to old forest, maple and oak. A very small amount of proof or acetone. I get some apricot fruited notes instead of the typical buffalo trace cherry.
😜Palate: Silky mouthfeel, no burn whatsoever. Lots of oak, brown sugar, and molasses. No off flavors of which to speak.
💦Finish: A flash of heat at the finish but very medium in length and intensity. Maple wood and simple syrup.
🏆 Overall: 7/10 - Great - Tasted this side-by-side with a normal bottle of Buffalo Trace. It has more wood character to the detriment of the fruited flavors but drinks noticeably smoother by leaps and bounds. Age has crushed the rough edges. Nose to Nose, the Buffalo Trace is much more of a sensory experience, but doesn't match the easy drinking mouthfeel and finish of Eagle Rare. I can see why people love this bottle even if it doesn't have any of the funk that I tend to chase. My Brother-in-Law holds Eagle Rare out as his favorite bottle and it's certainly a good one.
⚖️Rating Scale:
2 | Poor | I wouldn’t consume it by choice.
3 | Bad | Multiple flaws | Struggle to get through the bottle
4 | Serviceable | Mixing or ice recommended.
5 | Good | Drinkable Neat | An agreeable dram indeed.
6 | Very Good | Any flaws offset by interesting flavors | A cut above.
7 | Great | You find yourself reaching for this one often | Well above average.
8 | Excellent | Serve to Impress Guests | Really quite exceptional.
9 | Incredible | An all time favorite | You guard this bottle jealously.
10 | Perfect | You didn't think anything could be this good | A clear champion.