AVB
Jesus of Cool, I'm bad, I'm nationwide
- Joined
- Nov 14, 2003
- Messages
- 23,521
Eagle Rare 17 Kentucky Straight Bourbon, 90 proof, 750 ml., $40-45.
Eagle Rare 17 is the older version of the Eagle Rare 10 and the extra 7 years are well worth it. A product of Buffalo Trace Distillery (formally Ancient Age) it is one of the growing numbers of "boutique" small batch bourbons that are coming out. Buffalo Trace makes a number of them. Besides the Eagle Rare, they also make W.L. Weller 19 yo, Pappy Van Winkel 20 and 23 yo and the Stagg 15 yo.
Eagle Rare suffers from some poor advertising, there are many sites that advertise this as single barrel bourbon but that isn't stated anywhere on the bottle or in anything printed I could find. I'd be surprised if it was due to the somewhat low proof for a single barrel product and the lack of a statement on the bottle.
While consistently rated over the last 3 years as one of the top 5 bourbons in the world almost all of the professional reviewers feel that there could be a bit more to this drink. I can't imagine where they would rate this if that last magical item was ever found. I'm hard pressed to say whatever that might be as it is really very, very good as it is IMO. The nose reminds me of fresh almonds hot in the bag on a cold winter day. The taste is clean with hints of licorice, leather and old oak that changes to almost a toffee flavor on the back of the tongue. After such a great beginning the finish lasts shorter then I would like but is still good with a vanilla? overtone on a peppery bottom.
Eagle Rare is a solid A performer, not as full as the A.H. Hirsh 16 or 20 yo nor as smooth as the Van Winkle 20 or 23 yo it is still an excellent example of the distillers craft and is well worth a try if you get the chance.
Eagle Rare 17 is the older version of the Eagle Rare 10 and the extra 7 years are well worth it. A product of Buffalo Trace Distillery (formally Ancient Age) it is one of the growing numbers of "boutique" small batch bourbons that are coming out. Buffalo Trace makes a number of them. Besides the Eagle Rare, they also make W.L. Weller 19 yo, Pappy Van Winkel 20 and 23 yo and the Stagg 15 yo.
Eagle Rare suffers from some poor advertising, there are many sites that advertise this as single barrel bourbon but that isn't stated anywhere on the bottle or in anything printed I could find. I'd be surprised if it was due to the somewhat low proof for a single barrel product and the lack of a statement on the bottle.
While consistently rated over the last 3 years as one of the top 5 bourbons in the world almost all of the professional reviewers feel that there could be a bit more to this drink. I can't imagine where they would rate this if that last magical item was ever found. I'm hard pressed to say whatever that might be as it is really very, very good as it is IMO. The nose reminds me of fresh almonds hot in the bag on a cold winter day. The taste is clean with hints of licorice, leather and old oak that changes to almost a toffee flavor on the back of the tongue. After such a great beginning the finish lasts shorter then I would like but is still good with a vanilla? overtone on a peppery bottom.
Eagle Rare is a solid A performer, not as full as the A.H. Hirsh 16 or 20 yo nor as smooth as the Van Winkle 20 or 23 yo it is still an excellent example of the distillers craft and is well worth a try if you get the chance.
.
