Eagle Rare 17 Year Bourbon (Fall 2021)

Aroma - Wow. This is a first. It smells like new tires, literally. It truly does. I can't shake the image. Beyond that... I get a strong oak profile, hints of wintergreen and cinnamon, black cherries. It's amazing. Taste - Leather, wet oak, black pepper, a slight hint of cherry cough syrup. The finish is awesome, with many different flavors dancing across the palate. Very long finish. Leather, caramel, vanilla, cherries. As peculiar as this description sounds... it's distinctive and I think it's really awesome.

Tonight, for a friend's anniversary celebration, I had the opportunity to sample a flight of BTAC expressions. I had lower expectations for this particular one compared to the others. It surpassed all my preconceptions. The nose is sweet, almost wine-like. It has a very smooth apricot flavor with a light rye spice. This is a bourbon for everyone to enjoy; it goes down effortlessly. It's far superior to any Eagle Rare or Blanton's I've ever tasted.

Bottled Summer 2021. The aroma is very fruity, almost tart but pleasantly so. The taste is smooth with a tingling spice. Sweetness, fruit, some cinnamon, leather, and a tea note on the finish. A little thin, but that's to be expected. I wasn't fond of earlier versions, but this one is good. 7/14/22.

Neat. The nose has spicy brown sugar and vanilla. The taste mirrors the nose with sweet, spicy oak and brown sugar, finishing with vanilla and brown sugar. It's truly excellent.

A very enjoyable bourbon. Sweetness and creaminess, but not excessive. A touch of oak enhances it.

I wasn't expecting such a pronounced rye flavor, but I do enjoy it. It's definitely an improvement over the 10-year expression.