Eagle Rare Bourbon In-Depth Review

Eagle Rare Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey was one of the best bourbons available on the market, period. Most bourbons on shelves today are young (4-6 years old), sourced and expensive. Eagle Rare is the opposite of all those. A 10 year age statement on the bottle, distilled, aged and bottled by Buffalo Trace Distillery, and it’s affordable with an MSRP around $35-$40.

Now the problem with Eagle Rare 10 year is availability. I listed off all of the positive attributes of this bottle and it is in such demand it is hard to find. Buffalo Trace has kept MSRP very affordable so that is excellent considering most bourbon prices have skyrocketed in recent years. However, some consumers have issues with Buffalo Trace’s allocation of this product and the high markups about MSRP at many liquor stores.

Old Prentice Eagle Rare

Eagle Rare bourbon was originally introduced to market by Seagram in 1975. At that time Seagram owned Old Prentice Distillery in Lawrenceburg, KY (currently Four Roses Distillery) and that is where Eagle Rare was distilled. The bourbon was bottled in New Orleans by Sazerac at 101 proof when it was at least 10 years old. The brand was sold by Seagram in 1989 to Sazerac (who owns Buffalo Trace). Buffalo Trace Master Distiller Harlan Wheatley oversees the production of Eagle Rare and all that goes into making this extremely desirable bourbon.

Eagle Rare 10 Year Mashbill

Eagle Rare ten year old bourbon is a mid-shelf Buffalo Trace bottle that is allocated and hard to find at MSRP ($35-$40). The mashbill is undisclosed, however we do know it is Buffalo Trace mashbill #1 and their low rye mashbill. Mashbill #1 has been rumored to be 75% corn, 10% rye and 15% malted barley but Buffalo Trace has never officially disclosed that information. Other mashbill #1 bourbons include Buffalo Trace, Old Charter, E H Taylor, Stagg (formerly Stagg Jr) and George T Stagg.

Buffalo Trace currently bottles standard Eagle Rare, Eagle Rare single barrel store picks, Eagle Rare 17 year old as a part of the Buffalo Trace Antique Collection and Double Eagle Very Rare. The last two listed are near impossible to find and command high dollars on the secondary market.

Eagle Rare Single Barrel 10 Year 90 Proof Liquor Barn Pick Review

Fun fact for any single barrel pick from Buffalo Trace, if you email info@buffalotrace.com a picture of the medallion and laser code (normally around the bottom of the bottle) they will provide the following chart full of cool information! It might take them a couple of days to respond but be patient as it is well worth the wait. It is amazing getting the details about the bottle you are drinking because it can help you make more informed decisions about your purchases in the future. This particular barrel was aged 10 years and 7 months! I normally enjoy looking at the Warehouse, Floor, rick, age and char level and comparing those stats with other single barrels I have tasted.

The bottle I am about to review is a Single Barrel Store Pick selected by Liquor Barn. They are a local liquor store chain in Louisville and have other locations mainly throughout Central and Northern Kentucky. It is the same 90 proof as the standard bottling but hopefully unique in its own way since it is a single barrel. Let’s dive in!

Color – Medium amber

Aroma – A beautiful soft sweetness is the first note when approaching my glencairn. The nose is very fruit forward with strong cherry notes and hints of orange zest. After the initial sweetness there is light oak and perfectly baked biscuit with just a hint of brown on top.

Taste – On my first sip I immediately notice a great mouthfeel for a 90 proof bourbon. I am big on mouthfeel and prefer my bourbon more viscous but that is almost exclusively found in dusty bottles, much higher age statements or cask strength expressions. My first sip has much a oakier taste than I expected considering the robust fruit notes I had on the nose. Still nice and sweet on the backend of the palate with cherries and a jam-like sweetness. I get a nice big hit of vanilla but sadly that fades quickly.

Finish – Medium length finish that slowly creeps down your chest. Nice and warming leaving a slight tingle on the palate. A nice flavor of oak and cherry sweetness that hangs around a moderate amount of time on the palate.

Rating – 7.2/10

Thoughts – When this was on the shelf and sub $30 it was the best value in bourbon, but sadly those days are gone. This bottle has gotten hard to find, let alone at MSRP. I really enjoy this pour, especially for a 90 proof bourbon. It’s something you could sip on all night and not tire of it at all. Eagle Rare would be a daily drinker for me if it was easier to find or more affordable when I do find it.

Buffalo Trace distillate normally has beautiful fruit notes and this is no exception. This particular Liquor Barn store pick is in my opinion better than the standard Eagle Rare bottle which at times can be a little too oaky. This has a nice balance of oak, fruit and a decent finish. It wasn’t overly complex but very enjoyable. I would always prefer Eagle Rare, especially good store picks, to be drank neat not on the rocks or mixed. A good substitute for the his bottle would be Wild Turkey 10 Year. Not so much for the fruity tasting notes but for the age, quality and affordability.

1 | Disgusting | So bad I poured it out.

2 | Poor | I wouldn’t consume by choice.

3 | Bad | Multiple flaws.

4 | Sub-par | Not bad, but better exists.

5 | Good | Good, just fine.

6 | Very Good | A cut above.

7 | Great | Well above average.

8 | Excellent | Really quite exceptional.

9 | Incredible | An all time favorite.

10 | Perfect | Perfect