Eagle Rare 10 Year Bourbon

Eagle Rare 10 Year Bourbon is a 90-proof (45% ABV) Kentucky straight bourbon aged a minimum of ten years, available in a 750ml bottle. Winner of the inaugural Bourbon Trophy at the International Wine & Spirits Competition in 2013, this expression from Buffalo Trace Distillery has become one of the most sought-after age-stated bourbons at its price tier.

Quick Facts: ABV: 45% (90 proof)  |  Origin: Frankfort, Kentucky, USA  |  Age: 10 Years  |  Distillery: Buffalo Trace

Production & Heritage

Eagle Rare is produced at Buffalo Trace Distillery in Frankfort, Kentucky — a National Historic Landmark distillery whose origins date to 1773 and which has operated continuously through Prohibition under medicinal whiskey permits. The bourbon uses Buffalo Trace's Mashbill #1, a low-rye recipe containing roughly 10% or less rye grain, with the balance made up of corn and malted barley. After distillation, the spirit matures for a minimum of ten years in new charred American oak barrels, each hand-selected for quality and consistency before bottling. Eagle Rare was historically labeled as a single-barrel bourbon, though that designation was removed when the distillery transitioned from hand-bottling to an automated line, where trace amounts from one barrel could mingle with the next during the process.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: The nose opens with rich toffee and honeycomb, followed by orange peel and dried herbs. Beneath that sweetness sits a layer of worn leather and toasted oak that signals the decade of barrel aging.

Taste: The entry is distinctly honeyed, with toasted brown sugar and nougat coating the palate. Mid-palate shifts toward bold, dry oak and candied almonds, building into deep cocoa and a gentle white pepper spice at its peak. Despite the dryness, a thread of sweetness keeps the profile balanced throughout.

Finish: Medium in length, closing with toffee, bubble gum, and lingering honey. A final trace of dry leather and vanilla fades slowly, leaving the oak influence as a quiet reminder of the age statement.

How to Drink Eagle Rare

Neat or with a single large ice cube is the clearest way to appreciate the decade of aging — the 90-proof strength holds up well with a small amount of dilution, which opens up the orange peel and cocoa notes. Beyond sipping, Eagle Rare works in several cocktails:

• Old Fashioned — The toffee and oak backbone stands up to bitters and sugar without losing complexity.
• Boulevardier — The dry cocoa and honeyed sweetness complement Campari's bitterness and sweet vermouth's herbal quality.
• Mint Julep — Ten years of oak character gives extra depth to the classic bourbon-and-mint combination.

Best For

• Gifting a bourbon enthusiast who values age-stated whiskey
• Building a Kentucky bourbon collection alongside other Buffalo Trace expressions
• Hosting a side-by-side tasting of age-stated versus non-age-stated bourbons
• Celebrating milestones with a bourbon that rewards slow, reflective sipping

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Eagle Rare taste like? Eagle Rare leads with honey, toffee, and toasted brown sugar, then transitions to bold dry oak, candied almonds, and rich cocoa, finishing with medium-length notes of vanilla and leather.

How does Eagle Rare compare to E.H. Taylor Small Batch? Both are produced at Buffalo Trace Distillery, but Eagle Rare carries a 10-year age statement and uses Mashbill #1, while E.H. Taylor Small Batch is bottled in bond at 100 proof without a specific age statement and is generally considered bolder in proof and spicier on the palate. Eagle Rare tends to showcase more developed oak and toffee character from its longer maturation.

Is Eagle Rare good for sipping neat? Yes — the 45% ABV is approachable enough for neat sipping, and the ten years of aging provide the kind of layered complexity that rewards patience in the glass.

Where is Eagle Rare made? Eagle Rare is distilled and aged at Buffalo Trace Distillery in Frankfort, Kentucky, located along the Kentucky River in the heart of bourbon country.

What foods pair well with Eagle Rare? Dark chocolate truffles echo the cocoa notes in the bourbon. Pecan pie complements the toffee and toasted sugar character. Smoked brisket stands up to the dry oak backbone. Aged cheddar mirrors the richness and draws out the honey sweetness. Orange-glazed duck plays off the orange peel aromatics on the nose.

What sizes does Eagle Rare come in? Eagle Rare 10 Year is most commonly available in the standard 750ml bottle, with 375ml and 1.75L formats occasionally found depending on market and allocation.

Is Eagle Rare worth the price? Eagle Rare positions as a premium bourbon that punches above its price tier, offering a genuine 10-year age statement — a rarity in a market where many comparably priced bourbons carry no age statement at all. Its multiple awards, including a 95-point rating and Double Gold medals from the Beverage Testing Institute and San Francisco World Spirits Competition, reinforce its reputation as strong value within the aged bourbon category.

Why Eagle Rare?

A ten-year age statement on a bourbon at this price point is increasingly rare in the American whiskey landscape, and Eagle Rare delivers on the promise that number implies. The combination of Buffalo Trace's low-rye Mashbill #1 and a full decade in new charred oak produces a profile that balances sweetness, dry oak, and cocoa in a way that few competitors match at a similar tier. Its accolades — including the inaugural IWSC Bourbon Trophy and consistent high marks from the Beverage Testing Institute — reflect a track record of quality rather than hype. For drinkers who want age-stated bourbon without entering ultra-premium pricing, Eagle Rare remains one of the strongest arguments in the category.