Eagle Rare (10 Year)
Overall Score: 5/10
Overall Value: 2.25/5
Distillery: Buffalo Trace
Classification: Straight Bourbon
Company: Sazerac Company Inc.
Release Date: Ongoing
Proof: 90
Age: 10 Years
Mashbill: Buffalo Trace Mashbill #1
Color: Gold
MSRP: $40 (2024)
The Barrel Bros’ Review
Eagle Rare, heralded from the prestigious Buffalo Trace Distillery, is a bourbon that carries with it a significant expectation, given its lineage and the distillery's reputation for crafting some of the finest spirits in the bourbon world. With an MSRP that can soar in the secondary market to around $100, expectations are understandably high for this 10-year bourbon, often seen for sale as a coveted store pick among enthusiasts.
On the nose, Eagle Rare initially promises a complex journey with a sweet, youthful aroma that unfolds into red fruits and subtle chocolate notes, despite its age. Howevre, another taste found it moving towards a chalky, charred character, with an ending that hints at alcohol notes reminiscent of bug spray.
The experience on the palate is marked by an unmistakable oakiness paired with an unwelcome harshness and a fleeting sweetness akin to raw honey. This profile is marred by a sour alcohol bite that detracts from the anticipated richness and depth one hopes for in a bourbon of this caliber and proof.
The finish is consistently underwhelming across tastings, described as short, medicinal, and dominated by oak without much diversity. The thin mouthfeel does little to enhance the experience, leaving much to be desired in terms of flavor satisfaction.
Despite its prestigious origins and the allure of its age statement, Eagle Rare struggles to justify its secondary price tag. The bourbon exhibits a surprising youthfulness and lack of complexity that belies its 10 years of aging.
For those able to purchase at MSRP, it might still hold value as a collection piece or for the occasional sipping curiosity. However, for most enthusiasts seeking depth and a rewarding tasting experience, alternatives like the 1792 Small Batch present a more gratifying option.
In essence, unless Eagle Rare is a personal favorite or a must-have for your collection, exploring other bourbons from Buffalo Trace Distillery or elsewhere at this price point might be a more satisfying venture.
Individual Reviews
The Rye Guy Says
Score: 5/10
Value: 2.5/5
THE NOSE:
Started off sweet, but there was a chalkiness to it reminding me of Smarties.
This moved to a very distinct char note, similar to the smell after you strike a match. At the very end, I did pick up some alcohol notes that came across faintly like bug spray.
THE TASTE:
Oak and char were immediately apparent and for me a bit heavy-handed.
I got the slightest bit of sweetness that was there for a moment and tasted like raw honey. The final tasting notes I can only describe as a slightly unpleasant sour alcohol bite.
THE FINISH:
All oak and not much diversity that I could pick out.
The mouthfeel was thin but did sink into the sides of the mouth quite nicely. It would be great if the flavor was more to my liking.
BUY OR PASS?
I was fairly disappointed with this tasting. I’ve always considered Eagle Rare to be very hit or miss and unfortunately this one seemed to be the latter. This isn’t Buffalo Trace’s rarest offering (No pun intended), but it can be a difficult bottle to get ahold of.
If you haven’t experienced Eagle Rare or just really want it on your shelf — and you get the opportunity to buy it at retail — it’s worth it. Otherwise, there are better options at this price point. Some of those from the same distiller!
The Hunter Says
Score: 5/10
Value: 2/5
THE NOSE:
At first whiff, Eagle Rare greets you with a nose that's both sweet and unexpectedly youthful, an intriguing characteristic for a bourbon that boasts a decade of aging.
The initial sweetness gives way to bits of red fruits, eventually unfolding into subtle chocolate notes. This progression from sweet to complex is promising, yet the youthful undertone is a puzzle, given its age.
THE TASTE:
Upon tasting, the oak is unmistakable, but it's accompanied by a harshness that seems out of place.
The youth observed in the nose carries through to the palate, overshadowing the richness one might anticipate from a bourbon aged for 10 years. At 90 proof, it's possible that the lower alcohol content contributes to the lack of depth and complexity that bourbon bros seek in their bourbon experiences.
THE FINISH:
The experience concludes on a less than stellar note, with a finish that can only be described as short and medicinal, accompanied by an unexpected harshness and fleeting notes of shoe polish.
Such descriptors are rarely sought after in the bourbon-tasting journey, leaving one to ponder the maturation process of this particular batch.
BUY OR PASS?
Given its premium positioning and the secondary market price point of around $100, Eagle Rare is a bottle that might not live up to the expectations set by its heritage and age statement. For those in pursuit of a more rewarding bourbon experience at a similar or lower price point, the 1792 Small Batch offers a more gratifying alternative, delivering on the depth and richness that Eagle Rare seems to promise yet falls short of delivering.
