Eagle Rare 12 Year Bourbon

This is a fairly new 12-year expression with a limited release in June. I haven’t had the chance to try the popular 10-year Eagle Rare yet, so I'm using Weller 12 as my comparison point. To be fair, Weller has been my go-to for years, so I have a built-in preference. That being said, overall, I have to say this Eagle Rare comes out ahead. It's only about 5 proof points higher than the Weller, but the Eagle Rare offers an extra dimension of depth and complexity that the Weller lacks. The tasting highlights include a sweet, oaky aroma with almond undertones. It presents a long, rich, lingering finish with warm toffee notes. I'd like more!

NEAT NOSE - Rich aroma! Lots of Caramel, Honey, Cherry, and Grape Jolly Rancher PALATE - The aroma carries over to the taste. This is honestly one of the most balanced 12-year-old bourbons I've had the pleasure to try. There is absolutely no burn, spice, or tannic notes from the oak. This is very smooth and sweet, seemingly more so than the 10-year-old, which is pretty remarkable. Buffalo Trace is highly sought after for good reason. FINISH - Sweet oak, caramel, and cherry. Medium-length finish. BUY? - Absolutely. This is excellent at MSRP. I think the most I'd pay is $70 if I couldn't get it for MSRP. BUY AGAIN? - Without question, at MSRP.

Nose- cherry, oak, somewhat subdued compared to ER10. There's also a pie crust note in the background. Palate- Oak is prominent. Vanilla and ethanol notes. The mouthfeel appears thin compared to ER10. Palate- This brings the heat and the oak! Significantly more so compared to ER17. Overall- An additional two years and an increase in proof didn't help much. This became somewhat unbalanced, hot, and oaky. I drank it alongside ER10 and I find I prefer ER10 for less money and less hassle.

The nose is sweet and confectionary (typical BT character). The palate has sweet red fruits with pleasant oak for balance. Texture & finish exceed expectations. Quite viscous/medium length for the finish. I compared it to a regular ER and this was clearly superior. Avoid the secondary market for this bottle; it's good but not groundbreaking.

Everything you appreciate about 10, but a bit more refined and elegant... and if you enjoy a grapey quality, this enhances it! The 10 year has a funkiness to me, but this seems to resolve that issue.

Just like the standard Eagle Rare 10, it's incredibly smooth and delicious. The extra 2 years bring out more of the oak and caramel taste. A great pour!