When Eagle Rare debuted back in 1975, it was billed as a luxury bourbon. While the whiskey was initially made for Seagram by no other than Charles L. Beam (the longtime Four Roses master distiller), it ended up in the hands of Sazerac by the late '80s. These days, the Buffalo Trace-made Eagle Rare is an entirely affordable item, given that its age remains even as its price tag hovers around $40. Consequently, this has made it more scarce on shelves—its sterling reputation as a reliable older bourbon at a relatively low price has led to a demand that outstrips the distillery’s supply. We explore what makes Eagle Rare 10 year old an enduring fan favorite, and whether you’ll have an easier time finding it in the future.
How is Eagle Rare 10 Year Made?
The modern day Eagle Rare 10 takes Buffalo Trace’s mashbill #1, which, while kept under lock and key by the distillery, is known to be a low-rye mashbill with 10% or less rye grain. (Aside from the namesake Buffalo Trace bourbon, mashbill #1 is also used in the Benchmark, Old Charter, Colonel E.H. Taylor, George T. Stagg, and Stagg bourbons.) Originally bottled as a single barrel, that designation was eventually removed from Eagle Rare’s label—while the distillery bottles each barrel of Eagle Rare individually, this is done via an automated bottling line, which means that some residue from one barrel may blend with a new barrel over the course of bottling. Eagle Rare was initially bottled at 101 proof as well, but switched over to the lower 90 proof bottling by 2005.
Eagle Rare 10 Year Old Bourbon At a Glance:
Distillery Name: Buffalo Trace
Age: 10 year old
ABV: 45%
Cask: New charred oak
SRP: $38
Quick Tasting Notes: Nougat, honeycomb, earthiness, orange peel, baking spice
Overall Thoughts: An elevated daily dram, this can be enjoyed anytime, anywhere.
How We Tasted This
For this tasting (conducted blind, as all of our tastings are), we poured room-temperature Eagle Rare 10 into a Glencairn glass. At 45% ABV, there’s no need to dilute, and adding water may in fact dull an otherwise enjoyable sipping experience.
What Does Eagle Rare 10 Year Old Smell Like?
The nose is akin to stepping into a candy shop: There are sweet flavors of nougat, honeycomb, aromatic oak, graham cracker crust, and toasted marshmallow. Complexity soon arises, however, as citrus peel, funky earth, and mushroom notes join the mix.
What Does Eagle Rare 10 Year Old Taste Like?
The palate is sweet and lively, delivering orange peel and subtle hints of baking spice. It’s light-bodied, verging on thin, though this makes for an easy sipper, especially for those who may be newer to aged bourbons (or whiskey in general).
The finish coaxes out more sweetness, making for a nice through-line from nose to end. Expect more vanilla, honey, baking spice, and an undercurrent of earthiness.
Final Thoughts on Eagle Rare 10 Year Old
For the age and price, this unpretentious whiskey delivers a satisfying sipping experience. Its flavors are easy to parse out and enjoy, and its price tag makes it a dependable choice for everyday sipping or for sharing with friends.
Why Is Eagle Rare 10 So Hard to Find?
As the demand for bourbon overall has skyrocketed, so too has the interest a brand like Eagle Rare, whose indisputable value has long been cherished by whiskey lovers. In recent years, it’s also taken on the “allocated” moniker, meaning it's only available in limited quantities, and goes to specific retailers, bars, and restaurants. It’s even a scarcity at the Buffalo Trace Distillery in Frankfurt, Kentucky, where it's available on a rotating basis (and visitors are limited to purchasing one bottle every 90 days).
What’s Eagle Rare 10 Year Cost?
The $40 suggested retail price for Eagle Rare and the price you’ll pay may differ greatly based on where you are in the world. As an allocated whiskey, those in markets where it’s less widely available may see the bottle go for a much higher price. Where it’s generally available, however, it’ll be at or under that SRP.
Is More Eagle Rare 10 Year Coming Soon?
Fans of Eagle Rare (and many other allocated Buffalo Trace whiskeys) will be pleased to hear that yes, more whiskey is coming—and soon. Since 2016, Buffalo Trace has been chipping away at a $1.2 billion expansion that’s steadily added new elements to the distillery year by year, including 14 new rickhouses, additional cookers, 12 new fermenters, a cooling system, and an expanded visitor center. A new stillhouse with a 40-foot tall still (a duplicate of the current still) became operational last year, and enables the distillery to produce an additional 60,000 gallons of whiskey per day. Ultimately, this means that double the amount of Eagle Rare and other labels will be on board in the future.
Eagle Rare 10 Year Versus Eagle Rare 17 Year
Eagle Rare 10 is but the first stepping stone in an Eagle Rare lineup that also includes the beloved Eagle Rare 17, a whiskey we’ve regularly scored at 93 points and above. Given its age statement, it represents another great value as well—17 year old whiskey for $70? Sign us up! Those seven extra years imbue the whiskey with deeper, richer flavors, making it a bolder bourbon than its younger predecessor. But its allocation means that the whiskey is not only hard to find, but often goes for a far higher price as well.
Other Eagle Rare Offerings
The success of Eagle Rare has spawned several offspring, all of which are more rarefied than the original 10 year old. The most recent addition to the range, Eagle Rare 25 year old, debuted last fall, and represented the future of Buffalo Trace’s ultra-aged releases. Just 200 bottles of the $10,000 bourbon were released, though master distiller Harlen Wheatley hopes that eventually, more Eagle Rare fans will be able to get their hands on a bottle. Among the other ultra-aged bourbons in the Eagle Rare lineup are Double Eagle Very Rare 20 year old (an annual release that runs $2,000 and generally sees between 800 and 1,200 bottles filled) and Eagle Rare 17 year old released within the Buffalo Trace Antique Collection.
Bottles Like Eagle Rare 10 Year Old
Fans of Eagle Rare 10 will likely enjoy other easy-going yet flavorful bourbons that carry their proof well and deliver sweet, honeyed notes galore, and perhaps a touch of earthiness to boot.
Maker’s Cellar Aged, 57.85%, $150; Our rating: 94
Four Roses Small Batch Select, 52%, $55; Our rating: 93
Knob Creek 9 year old, 50%, $30; Our rating: 92
Buffalo Trace, 45%, $30; Our rating: 90
