Eagle Rare Double Eagle Very Rare Bourbon 750ML

Eagle Rare Double Eagle Very Rare Bourbon 750ML is a 20-year-old ultra-premium Kentucky straight bourbon from Buffalo Trace Distillery, bottled at 90 or 101 proof depending on release. Presented in a hand-blown crystal decanter featuring twin sculpted eagles—one soaring within the glass and one perched atop the stopper—it stands among the most limited and collectible American whiskeys ever produced, with the original release limited to just 299 bottles.

Quick Facts: ABV: 45% (90 proof) / 50.5% (101 proof) by release  |  Origin: Frankfort, Kentucky, USA  |  Age: 20 Years  |  Distillery: Buffalo Trace Distillery

Production & Heritage

Buffalo Trace Distillery, located in Frankfort, Kentucky, has operated continuously on the same site since 1773 and is recognized as a National Historic Landmark. Double Eagle Very Rare represents the pinnacle of the Eagle Rare line, aged for a full 20 years in charred new American oak barrels—twice the maturation period of the standard Eagle Rare 10 Year. The bourbon follows Buffalo Trace's traditional bourbon mashbill, and each release is selected from barrels that have achieved extraordinary depth and complexity over two decades of Kentucky seasonal aging cycles. The crystal decanter packaging, handcrafted for each bottle, reinforces the expression's status as a presentation piece rather than a shelf staple.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Toasted oak and rich caramel lead, followed by layers of dark chocolate and ripe cherry. Underneath, vanilla cream and polished leather add depth, while dried fruit and honey emerge with time in the glass.

Taste: The entry is silky and full-bodied, immediately coating the palate with toffee, candied orange peel, and roasted nuts. Mid-palate, sweet tobacco, warm baking spices, and seasoned oak unfold with remarkable balance. Dark chocolate resurfaces alongside a faint citrus brightness that prevents the oak from dominating despite two decades in barrel.

Finish: Exceptionally long and warming, with honeyed spice, dark stone fruit, and soft charred oak lingering well after each sip. The finish carries a graceful sweetness that slowly gives way to dry, tannic oak and a whisper of leather.

How to Drink Double Eagle Very Rare

This bourbon is best appreciated neat in a Glencairn or tulip glass at room temperature, allowing the 20 years of barrel influence to express themselves fully. A few drops of water can open up additional aromatic layers, particularly the dried fruit and honeyed notes. Given its rarity and collectibility, cocktail use is uncommon, but for those inclined: an Old Fashioned lets the bourbon's toffee and dark chocolate character shine against simple syrup and Angostura bitters; a Boulevardier benefits from the deep oak backbone playing against sweet vermouth and Campari; and a Mint Julep made with this bourbon transforms the classic into a contemplative, deeply layered experience.

Best For

• Gifting a serious bourbon collector or whiskey enthusiast for a milestone occasion
• Anchoring a high-end spirits collection as a display-worthy centerpiece
• Celebrating a once-in-a-lifetime personal achievement
• Tasting alongside other ultra-aged bourbons in a structured comparative flight

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Double Eagle Very Rare taste like? Double Eagle Very Rare delivers rich toffee, dark chocolate, and candied orange on a silky palate, supported by warm baking spices and 20 years of seasoned oak influence. The finish is exceptionally long, with honeyed spice and dark fruit trailing into dry, leathery oak.

How does Double Eagle Very Rare compare to Pappy Van Winkle 20 Year? Both are 20-year-old Kentucky bourbons occupying the ultra-premium collectible tier, but they originate from different mashbills—Double Eagle Very Rare follows Buffalo Trace's traditional bourbon recipe, while Pappy Van Winkle 20 Year uses a wheated mashbill, resulting in a softer, sweeter profile versus Double Eagle's more oak-forward and spice-driven character. Both are produced at Buffalo Trace Distillery, though under entirely separate brand programs and barrel selections.

Is Double Eagle Very Rare good for sipping neat? Absolutely—this bourbon was designed for neat consumption, and its two decades of aging have produced a complexity and balance best appreciated without dilution or mixing. A few drops of water can further reveal nuances, but neat is the ideal primary serve.

Where is Double Eagle Very Rare made? Double Eagle Very Rare is produced at Buffalo Trace Distillery in Frankfort, Kentucky, a continuously operating distillery site dating to 1773 and designated a National Historic Landmark. All aging takes place on-site in Kentucky's climate, which drives seasonal expansion and contraction in the charred new American oak barrels.

What foods pair well with Double Eagle Very Rare? Dark chocolate truffles complement the bourbon's cocoa and toffee notes; aged Gouda or Gruyère provides a salty counterpoint to its caramel sweetness; pecan pie mirrors its nutty, honeyed character; smoked brisket matches the charred oak depth; and crème brûlée echoes its vanilla and caramelized sugar qualities.

What sizes does Double Eagle Very Rare come in? Double Eagle Very Rare is released in a 750ml hand-blown crystal decanter, which is the standard and only known format for this expression.

Is Double Eagle Very Rare worth the price? Double Eagle Very Rare positions firmly in the ultra-premium collectible tier of American whiskey, with secondary market values reflecting extreme scarcity—original releases were limited to as few as 299 bottles. Its value proposition rests on the 20-year age statement, the handcrafted crystal decanter presentation, and the Buffalo Trace pedigree, making it a purchase driven as much by collectibility as by drinking quality.

Why Double Eagle Very Rare?

Twenty years of uninterrupted maturation in charred new American oak is a rare achievement in bourbon—most Kentucky whiskeys reach diminishing returns well before that mark, but the barrels selected for Double Eagle Very Rare demonstrate that patient aging, under the right conditions, can produce extraordinary depth without excessive tannic bitterness. The hand-blown crystal decanter sets it apart from virtually every other bourbon on the market as a genuine objet d'art. With production limited to a few hundred bottles per release, Double Eagle Very Rare is among the scarcest expressions to emerge from Buffalo Trace, a distillery whose allocated releases already command intense demand. For collectors and devoted bourbon drinkers, it represents the ceiling of what the Eagle Rare program can produce.