LouisianaLonghorn
Eagle Rare 10 Year Bourbon
Bourbon — Kentucky, USA
Reviewed
March 12, 2021 (edited August 17, 2022)
Well by dumb luck I bumbled into Total Wine on a Monday to see what was left after the hordes had picked over the store during the weekend, and what to my surprise do I find but Eagle Rare at MSRP!
I do dislike the hype machine, and I thought my concerns were validated by the unbalanced and overtly cherry neck pour, but after a week or two I can’t find any fault in this bourbon. It’s just damn good, and I can see why the BT fanbois loose their shit over mashbill 1 goodies.
Nose is flawless. Toffee, brown sugar, some cherry, lotta char. It’s terribly well balanced on the palate with an oily coating mouthfeel that makes up for the low proof. The finish isn’t super long but it pulls you back in the same way a box of Girl Scout cookies beckons you with a “It’s ok. Eat the whole sleeve of thin mints” motif.
I will enjoy this bottle. For $35 this is a real treat. Now here’s the rub. This doesn’t make it to Texas very often, and when it does, it’s either in 375s or marked up to something ridiculous like $90. Not cool, Texas. Not cool. Of all the not cool things that happen here, that’s high on my list.
This is good bourbon. Well worth MSRP. It’s better that standard Buffalo Trace by a significant amount, and on par with Weller Special Reserve in my book. An easy sipper and a guaranteed crowd pleaser. Cheers all!
35.0
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Bottle
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Nice review...and...you struck a nerve with that Thin Mints comment. Been there before my friend
@WhiskeyLonghorn This has been my favorite bourbon so far... not that I've had many, as I mostly drink Scotch. Nice review!
@Bourbon_Obsessed_Lexington I have the same 1.5l bottle and never want to open it. It has become more a conversation piece
@CKarmios i think maybe 20 yrs or so.
@PBMichiganWolverine Be interested to know how long it took to build your “warehouse-grade” collection 😀
@WhiskeyLonghorn at 700 bottles in my collection, I’d say I’m not drinking enough ;-)
@Bourbon_Obsessed_Lexington I’d wager most of us have looked at our collections at one point or another and wondered if we have a drinking problem.
@Skymecca I’ve not stockpiled that much but I do have a comically large 1.5L bottle that is the same shape as the 750 and likely a mess to pour from. It’s the sort of bottle that makes me wonder if I have a drinking problem.
At the NH state liquor stores this is always in stock and around $30. I have bought 2 bottles here in Texas at specs for $33 ish. I agree its good stuff but not worth anymore than msrp
@WhiskeyLonghorn It wouldn’t be a bad idea, assuming you are a fan. I couldn’t buy a Weller Special Reserve here if my life depended on it. But in particular, I do it with Eagle Rare because it’s so tasty and well priced. Obviously don’t just stockpile stuff because of taters!
@Skymecca that’s a smart choice. Perhaps I should bunker a Weller Special Reserve Special Reserve.
@WhiskeyLonghorn Just in case the supply ever shuts off, I maintain an “Eagle Rare Strategic Reserve” of about 8 bottles. I’ve heard far too much about formerly accessible bottles disappearing overnight to not take advantage.
@Skymecca we have a ton of Weller Special Reserve around Texas. Can’t say I’ve ever seen 107 or 12 around here...but who has these days. The Eagle Rare was indeed a rare find. I’m savoring it not expecting to see it again...
@ghill40509 BT’s allocation is very dramatic. We have Eagle Rare all the time for $30 in the Bay Area which works out well for me. However, Weller - any Weller - is completely unobtainable. I understand that Weller is all over Texas.
Happy for your luck. I have yet to see a bottle of ER at Total EVER. One of my favorites but I never see it less that $45 and often pushing $100.