Eagle Rare 12 Bourbon

Overview
Eagle Rare Aged 12 Years Bourbon represents Buffalo Trace's expansion of its popular lineup, offering a batched 12-year expression that delivers greater depth and consistency compared to the standard 10-year single barrel version. Released in summer 2025 at an MSRP of $50, it bridges the gap between the core offering and rarer premium siblings like the 17-year BTAC.

Specs at a glance

Good to know
Originally distilled at Four Roses, Old Prentice, and Heaven Hill before moving to Buffalo Trace under Sazerac ownership, Eagle Trace gained massive popularity around 2016, contributing to ongoing allocation challenges. This 12-year version benefits from increased production capacity at Buffalo Trace, aiming to improve accessibility while maintaining the brand's reputation for quality.

Tasting notes

• Nose: Sweet oak dominates, accompanied by cedar cigar box and vanilla.
• Palate: Balanced maturity rounds out flavors through batching, avoiding excess oak influence.
• Finish: Lingering depth that echoes the 10-year expression with added refinement.

Notable details

• Production: 12 years age statement; 95 proof; batched bourbon, not single barrel.
• Lineage: Part of Buffalo Trace's Eagle Rare family, including 10-year single barrel, 17-year BTAC, Double Eagle Very Rare, and 25-year.
• Comparison: Improves on the 10-year with greater depth; positions between standard and 17-year expressions.
• Availability: Faces scarcity and allocations similar to other Buffalo Trace releases, though production increases may help.

"Eagle Rare 12 Years is a well-crafted, mature improvement on the 10-year version that adds depth without excess oak, though its scarcity undermines accessibility." – The Bourbon Culture

Closing
A consistent, mature bourbon that rewards patient collectors seeking Buffalo Trace refinement.

Sources

[1] Thebourbonculture – "Eagle Rare Aged 12 Years Bourbon Review"

[2] Breakingbourbon – "Eagle Rare 12 Year Review | Breaking Bourbon"

[3] Bourbonbanter – "Buffalo Trace Eagle Rare 12 New Release Review"

[4] Breakingbourbon – "Press Release: BUFFALO TRACE DISTILLERY ANNOUNCES EAGLE RARE 12 YEAR"

[5] Foodandwine – "Bourbon Fans, Meet Your New Favorite Pour: Eagle Rare 12"

[6] Whiskycritic – "Eagle Rare 12 Year Old Joins Permanent Range For Buffalo Trace"

[7] Bourbonblog – "Eagle Rare 12 Unveiled by Buffalo Trace: A Permanent 12-Year Bourbon Release at $49.99"