Eagle Rare 10 Year Old Bourbon
I frequently find myself astonished by what I haven't evaluated, given the length of time I've been writing reviews. Not the obscure stuff or the limited editions, but the classic whiskeys that ought to constitute the foundation of any reviewer's collection. However, I think I sometimes neglect the classics in my quest to explore underrated or comparatively undiscovered beverages. The Eagle Rare Bourbon is one of them.
Charles L. Beam served as Seagram's master distiller in 1975. He developed a new brand of whiskey called Eagle Rare Bourbon, which was distilled at the Four Roses Distillery in vats. The brand was then bought by Sazerac, who began producing it at the Buffalo Trace Distillery in Frankfort, Kentucky, in 1992.
Eagle Rare was still being produced by Sazerac at 101° until 2005 when a complete overhaul took place. It changed from being a small batch of Bourbon to being a single barrel. Since then, the single-barrel moniker has been dropped. The proof was also altered and turned down to 90 degrees. That will continue through 2021. The 10-year age statement is still present, but the necker is no longer covered by it. It was changed to the back label instead.
"The American bald eagle is a symbol of the three principles that formed the foundation of our country: life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. This idea has come to stand for the individual's freedom, spirit, and independence, inspiring the creation of goods and ideas that are wholly original. The Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey was one such innovation." the Sazerac
Buffalo Trace's mash bill #1, which is thought to contain 75% corn, 10% rye, and 15% malted barley, is used to create Eagle Rare. The suggested retail price is $35.00. Although it can be difficult, it is not impossible to find it on the shelf at that price. If you do find it, you should anticipate paying $50 or more.
Eagle Rare: Is it allotted? It's a vague question. Not really, no. But like Buffalo Trace, when people find it, they appear to clean the shelves. Additionally, some store owners reserve it for their "best" customers or for raffles and auctions.
Eagle Rare looked just like caramel when it was poured neat into my Glencairn glass. It developed a medium rim, which was followed by sluggish, lengthy legs that dipped back into the sunlit pool.
Nose: Fruity aromas just explode into the air, quite fragrant even in the glass. Cherry and berries are easily recognized. Under the fruit, there are notes of toasted oak, sweet caramel, brown sugar, and fresh leather. Plum swirled on my tongue as I drew air into my mouth.
Smooth is a term that many whiskey nerds despise. However, no other adjective can properly capture the mouthfeel. I found honey, citrus, brown sugar, and vanilla on the palate's front. Fruit in the middle included berries, cherries, and plums. The tastes of mint, dry wood, pepper, and clove were then extremely noticeable on the back.
Finish: At first, the conclusion was brief. A second drink, however, disproved that and I had a medium-to-long one. It began with plum and transitioned to smoked, dry oak. Pepper, vanilla, and candied orange peel followed after that.
Eagle Rare is difficult to not appreciate, bottle, bar, or bust. It is, at the very least, an improvement above the standard Buffalo Trace and a step down from E.H. Taylor. If you come into this bottle for between $30 and $45, it's a no-brainer. I would start questioning your decisions once you reached $50 and above. Of course, some people would gladly pay extra, but I'm not one of them. The lesson learned is that there is actually nothing bad about Eagle Rare. Cheers!
