Sweeter than Blanton's. Better than Buffalo Trace. This was one of my go-to bourbons several years ago. First time tasting this again in years! On a road-trip, I stopped at a random liquor store in a small town to grab a bourbon for camping. On this sidequest, the whiskey gods blessed me with an Eagle Rare 10 Year Single Barrel and a 375 mL of Blanton's. So, I thought I'd do a quick comparison between these two BT single barrel bourbons. The nose on Eagle Rare jumps out of the glass. It has your typical bourbon notes i.e. cherry, vanilla, and oak. Compared to the Blanton's, the cherry is more up front on the Eagle Rare. It's nice but I dare say Blanton's smelled a bit more complex with its spicier, leathery notes. The taste of Eagle Rare is sweet. Brown sugar on candied oranges. Some oak and a bit of spice on the finish. Its very inoffensive and nice. The Blanton's has stronger flavors of oak, leather, and tannins with an undertone of sweetness. The higher rye mashbill of Blanton's is apparent in this comparison. Honestly, I'm hardpressed to choose which one I like more. The Eagle Rare is $20-$30 cheaper than Blanton's but a tad bit less complex. My first taste of Blanton's from two years ago wasn't very positive, but I find myself liking the more leathery, oaky bourbons as my palate becomes more experienced. I will say that the upfront sweetness of Eagle Rare won over my friends while camping. Perhaps Eagle Rare is a better introductory bourbon? All in all, Eagle Rare is a solid choice at retail! Happy hunting!