Eagle Rare 17 is part of the Buffalo Trace Antique Collection, and my Eagle Rare 17 review has to start with the awkward fact that you can’t really buy it. It’s a very good bourbon with a price that’s mostly theoretical.
Eagle Rare 17: the basics
It’s from Buffalo Trace in Kentucky, and it’s a 17-year-old bourbon, bottled at 45% and aged in new charred American oak. It’s part of an allocated range, which means shops get very few bottles and people queue for them. The price we’ve logged is the retail one, and in practice you’ll pay more.
Very old bourbon is a rare thing, because most of it evaporates or gets too woody.
Eagle Rare 17 tasting notes and first impressions
Oak, leather and tobacco on the nose, with toffee, dried fruit and a hint of mint. It’s deep and dark, and quite woody.
On the palate it’s rich and complex, with caramel, dark fruit, leather and a lot of oak spice. The finish is very long, dry and a bit tannic. It’s impressive, and the oak is strong, which isn’t to everyone’s taste.
How to drink Eagle Rare 17
Neat, slowly, with a few drops of water. This is a sipping bourbon, and you’d be mad to mix it. I’d have it after dinner, with no distractions.
Eagle Rare 17 price: is it worth it?
About £100 for 70 cl at the retail price we’ve logged, which is a fair price for a 17-year-old bourbon, though you’re unlikely to get it at that price. For me it’s not three times as good as the 10, and that’s why my score is lower. For today’s Eagle Rare 17 price, the retailer link on this page is the quickest check, and it’s worth comparing a couple of shops.
If you like Eagle Rare 17, try these
Eagle Rare 10 is the better-value sibling, George T. Stagg 2025 is another allocated bottle, and Elijah Craig Small Batch is the easy-to-find alternative.
Who should buy Eagle Rare 17?
Collectors and bourbon fans who like a heavily oaked, aged style.
Eagle Rare 17 review verdict
A rich, oaky, impressive old bourbon that’s hard to find and not always worth the chase. The 10 is the better buy. Caskable score: 79 out of 100.
Oak, leather and tobacco, with toffee, dried fruit and a hint of mint.
Rich and complex, with caramel, dark fruit, leather and strong oak spice.
Very long, dry and a bit tannic.
A rich, oaky, impressive old bourbon that is hard to find and not always worth the chase.
Thomas Grønvold is the founder of Caskable and a whisky enthusiast who believes the best way to learn about whisky is simply to drink it, compare it, and stay curious. From supermarket favourites to bottles from distilleries around the world, he writes about what he actually tastes and experiences, without pretending you need to be an expert to enjoy a good dram.
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