All the way from the legendary Buffalo Trace Distillery in Frankfort, Kentucky, comes Eagle Rare 10 Year Old. A spectacular Kentucky straight Bourbon whiskey, matured for at least a decade before making its way into its distinctive bottles at 45% ABV. What's so distinctive about the bottles, you ask? Well, we're going to say it's the massive bald eagle, wings outstretched, looking like it's about to snatch up some dinner. Distinctive, yes? The whiskey is also pretty distinctive too, boasting full-bodied notes of cinder toffee, orange peel and buttery corn.
Toasted oak gives way to flamed orange peel and maple syrup.
Honey, buttered bread, oily walnuts and a touch of red fruit.
Vanilla, oak spice and a little bit of old leather.
I hate it. Too thin and cloyingly sweet, even for a bourbon. This gets rave reviews from everyone else, and I've heard they have tremendous variation, so maybe I got a bad batch. Now I'm hesitant to try any other Buffalo Trace Distillery products.
Excellent bourbon
Smooth. Spicy and Manly
I'm primarily a single-malt Scotch drinker but have tried out a few bourbons over the past few years. Eagle Rare is the latest. In short, it doesn't do much for me. People comment about how smooth it is, but I find it to be just plain bland. I much prefer Elijah Craig, even without the age statement. It's a touch sweeter and a has a lot more of what I'll call personality. It's definitely bigger and bolder than Eagle Rare, which I gather to be mostly for people who like to mix their spirits and admire fancy bottles. I like my whisky neat, and the Eagle doesn't fly with me. Too bad. I was hoping to find a viable alternative to my benchmark bourbon. I will keep looking.
I was a huge fan of Eagle Rare, my first bottle was a life changing moment. It really opened up my palette, and gave me a greater appreciation for Bourbon. However, since changing from hand bottling to machine it has lost its subtle flavours and an the overriding taste is now very herbiscous, like fresh cut grass. Gone is the subtle, sweet, lingering after taste. Gone is the cherry, oak and mild caramel taste. Such a shame and a real example of how increasing production can have a negative effect on a great product.
