Friends, dillweeds, celibate Tibetan monks, Eagle Rare might not be the best bourbon I’ve ever had, but it sure as hell is the bourboniest. From booze to bottle, Eagle Rare slaps you in the face with the big dick of unabashed American patriotism. It’s the kind of bottle you’d expect to have a tiny red MAGA hat instead of a stopper. Everything about it promises a uniquely American whiskey experience.
Just last year I had a client visit from abroad who loved scotch, but had never had bourbon. I set out to buy him a bottle of something to really highlight what American whiskey has to offer. I was browsing the shelves of my local liquor store when I heard it—cacaaaw! The haunting screech of the majestic bald eagle. My eyes darted to find the source. There it was: Eagle Rare, the last bottle on the shelf, bathed in the glow of red white and blue, being sold for the suggested retail price of $30. The eagle on the bottle looked at me, and winked. O say can you seeee!
So anyways, I bought him a bottle of Seagrass instead like an idiot.
Nose:
You know that taste bourbon flavoring has? Like bourbon flavored ice cream? Well I’ve never had a bourbon that actually tastes like that. But this stuff smells like that: sweet, round, and that specific brand of bourbony caramel.
Palate:
Bourbon. Sweet, smooth, and woody.
Finish:
Medium.
Bottom line:
8/10. To me, this really is the quintessential bourbon. It’s sweet, round, woody, and easy to sip. There’s no edge to this stuff – minimal burn, no spice, not bitter. It’s not complex, but it’s not trying to be either. It’s simple and good.
Final thoughts on pricing:
Eagle Rare is an anomaly to me in terms of pricing. Its suggested retail price is $30, but like most Buffalo Trace products, it’s extremely difficult to find at that price. However, unlike most Buffalo Trace products, I think its secondary market price ($60) is totally fair. Ten years old is a hefty age statement for a bourbon, and the liquid inside is no joke. This stuff drinks more like a $60 bottle than most actual $60 bottles do. I’m honestly shocked you can still get this stuff at that price when the likes of Weller SR are being sold at $100+.
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