Eagle Rare 10 - The Definition of Casual Sipping Bourbon

Photo by Suresh Doss

Eagle Rare 10 Year Old
Buffalo Trace Distillery
Taste Score: 90
Category: American Straight Bourbon, 10-12 years
Whisky Cabinet Rating: ★ ★ ★ ☆

Eagle Rare, is in many ways, is the perfect bourbon for casual bourbon drinkers. There’s enough dramatic shift between the oaky-vanilla start and the oak-based-spicy finish to say yes, this is well-aged bourbon. It’s easy to drink, but not boring. There’s enough complexity that you can sit back and enjoy it, but it’s not so luxuriously priced that you feel bad for drinking it absently.

Eagle Rare 10 faces increased challengers in this age-statement bracket, but many of these are higher-proof whiskies. Casual bourbon drinkers might just stop right here in their exploration of bourbon. Sure, there’s more to see in this category, but if you don’t like big oak-bombs or high-proof bourbons, and you find ryes too harsh, this is a fantastic go-to bourbon.

Nose: That soft warm caramel, that verges on perfume notes, with diluted vanilla and crusty apple pie dough.

Palate: Eagle Rare isn’t a high-rye bourbon, but this whisky absorbed enough oak spice to fill the palate with those spicy notes from start to finish. There’s a nice warm caramel cover to the flavour that is wonderfully comforting, and yet the spiciness keeps things interesting. It’s like watching a horror movie with someone you comfortably trust not to startle you on purpose. The finish continues in lovely balance of the spice and sweetness.

Conclusion: This is likely a two star whisky for hardcore bourbon enthusiasts that are seeking out Stagg Jr’s and Willet Single Barrel releases, but an easy three star whisky for the casual whisky cabinet that contains 6 or so whiskies.

Whisky Cabinet Rating Explained:

☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ Not recommended
★ ☆ ☆ ☆ Good whisky, but not a ‘must-have’
★ ★ ☆ ☆ Your great regular rotation whisky that'll come and go
★ ★ ★ ☆ Excellent, a near must-have
★ ★ ★ ★ Extraordinary, memorable, and original