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93
Eagle Rare (17 year old, 1984, 45%)
Deep amber color. Rich, mature aroma of molasses, maple syrup, and leather, with background notes of creamy vanilla, tobacco, and subtle mint. Full, thick, mouth-coating body. Sweet up front (molasses, maple syrup, rich toffee, candied fruit), becoming spicy (vanilla, mint) and then dry with notes of leather and tobacco. Long, dry finish.
Style: bourbon whiskey. Price: high $30s. Available nationwide in limited quantities (Buffalo Trace Distillery, 502/223-7641).
An evolving, dynamic whiskey. Full of excitement with a bit of an attitude. This whiskey seems quite comparable to the first release of Eagle Rare 17. In both instances the whiskey finishes quite dry, but there is enough sweetness and fullness of body to stand up to the dry oaky notes. More rounded and refined on the palate when compared to it younger sibling, the Eagle Rare 10 year old single barrel.
(1st Quarter 2002 Issue-Vol. 11#1)
93
93 Eagle Rare 17 year old, 45%, $48
I really enjoy these older Eagle Rare whiskeys. They're big, hearty whiskies that are very traditional in style, but have extra depth on the palate due to the extensive aging. Sweet notes (candy corn and toffee) meld nicely with underlying nuttiness (pecans, almonds), delicate spice (vanilla, cinnamon, mint), and a hint of leather. One of the best Eagle Rares I have ever tasted.
(1st Quarter 2006 Issue-Vol. 15#1)
88
Eagle Rare (Fall 2006 release), 17 year old, 45%, $55
Sweeter notes of pecan pie, dates, sweet corn, candied fruit, and English toffee combine with dried spices-cinnamon heat, vanilla, and mint-which crescendoes on its long, dry finish. A nicely matured bourbon with decent weight to it. Some of the expressions in the earlier part of the decade were a little heavy on the oak, but the last couple of years have shown greater balance.
(1st Quarter 2007 Issue-Vol. 16#1)
82
Eagle Rare, 10 year old, 45%, $23
The label says 10 years old, but this tastes more like bourbon in its mid teens. A big bourbon, and quite the antithesis of the 80 Strong below. Sweet notes of maple syrup and toffee are quickly taken over by firm mint and dried fruits, which then yields to emerging notes of polished leather, roasted nuts, and dry resinous oak. Long, spicy dried finish with cinnamon, mint, and oak. For those who like their bourbon bold and with plenty of oak impact. (Bottled exclusively for Bayway World of Liquor.)
(3rd Quarter 2006 Issue-Vol. 15#3)
81
Eagle Rare Single Barrel (10 year old, 45%)
Antique amber in color. Deep, mature aromas of toffee, wood spices, mint and leather. Medium in body. The flavor begins sweet, with honeyed vanilla and toffee notes, evolving to dried fruit and spices, and then becoming dry, woody and a bit hot. Long, dry finish.
Style: single barrel bourbon. Price: mid $20s. Available at select retailers nationwide (Buffalo Trace Distillery, 502/223-7641).
This bourbon sports a dynamic aroma. The flavors are nice too-sweet up front with the dry woodiness kicking in halfway through. Then it becomes quite dry. Rather than starting out really sweet and finishing really dry, I wish it were more balanced through out.
(4th Quarter 2001 Issue-Vol. 10#4)
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