A $100,000 heist. Demand by design. And an homage to another brand etched in
glass. The Eagle Rare reputation certainly lives up to its name,
but what's the whole truth behind this complex 10-year bourbon? Keep watching to find out.
Eagle Rare has not always been its reasonable 90-proof recipe. When the bourbon debuted,
it pushed the limits of what can legally be called bourbon and was much more alcoholic.
According to Gentleman Ranters, whiskey consumption went seriously downhill in
the 1960s and 1970s. Production was still at its usual level, but fewer people were buying whiskey.
At the time, Charles Beam, the master distiller at Seagram's, saw the ominous
trend and recognized that the decrease in the output was actually a hidden opportunity.
This downturn meant that Seagram's could increase its ability to put out more prized, and pricier,
aged products. So in 1975, Seagram launched Eagle Rare 10-year as a 101-proof whiskey.
If you are a bourbon fan and notice some similarities between this and another
avian-themed whiskey, that is no coincidence. Eagle Rare created its 101-proof selection to
be an homage to — or, some might say, a direct competitor of — the equally potent and often
beginner-friendly Wild Turkey. And no, we're not saying Matthew McConaughey is a beginner!
The alcohol content of Eagle Rare is not the only thing that's changed over time. When it
comes to whiskey, it's not always the physical ingredients that make the difference in taste.
The process itself can dramatically affect the final product, as is the case for Eagle Rare.
In 1989 the Sazarac company purchased seven brands, including Eagle Rare.
Significantly, in 1992 Sazarac also acquired Buffalo Trace Distillery.
According to Gentleman Ranters, in 2005, the brand discontinued the 101-proof version of Eagle Rare
whiskey in favor of the 90-proof version we know today. In 2012, after the brand took on a series
of significant updates to the facilities, the ten-year age statement was removed from the name.
What's more, the single barrel signifier was removed from the bottle entirely.
The new bottle processing equipment meant it was now possible to continue
to fill a bottle by moving onto a new barrel mid-fill, increasing efficiency
but also potentially melding the unique flavors of individual barrels within one bottle.
"Anybody else wanna whiskey?"
"Yeah."
One of the advantages of the many changes Eagle Rare has undergone is that, arguably,
consumers ended up with a better and more drinkable whiskey.
Strong 101-proof bourbons can be quite cutting due to the high alcohol content, for one.
Meanwhile, as The Whiskey Wash notes, multi-barrel blended bourbons tend to rely on the mixing
process to mellow out unappealing or harsh flavors that can turn off some
consumers. While Eagle Rare is no longer technically a single barrel, it is, at most,
a two barrel blend. This means it still must rely on a smoother and better ferment for the product.
As Eagle Rare is not a rye-heavy whiskey, it's not as spicy as those whiskey varieties.
What it lacks in that sort of flavor is made up in the complexity of the final product.
According to the Eagle Rare website, the 10- year bourbon is bold and dry with a lingering
taste. It has a nose of toffee, orange peel, herbs, honey, leather, and oak.
The taste is oaky, enhanced with candied nuts and cocoa. Whiskey reviewer The Whiskey
Wash agrees with these flavor notes and also notes the bourbon's smooth and rich flavor.
When it comes to making whiskey,
everything starts with the ingredients. When it comes to the building blocks of bourbon,
it's no accident that Kentucky became the bourbon capital of the United States.
According to Farm Flavor, Kentucky's agriculture facilitated the growth of
quality grains such as the corn, rye, and barley used to make Eagle Rare.
Additionally, Buffalo Trace Distillery's location was chosen
because of the proximity to the Kentucky River, which provides the distillery with
limestone-filtered water the company uses to create some of its whiskeys.
Eagle Rare is aged for at least 10 years in American oak barrels.
After this aging process, the whiskeys are then filtered to pull out the debris
from the barrel and leave the drinker with a clean, more palatable spirit.
When it comes time to filter out the impurities, Eagle Rare utilizes a
chill filter process. In a chill filter process, as Whisky Advocate reports, the whiskey is cooled
and then run through a filter system. This process removes chemical impurities that
can cause the whiskey to be cloudy, leaving you with a clearer bourbon in the bottle.
"Now that ain't even the right color."
"Quiet boy. Color? Coke!"
We are not in the business of telling people how to drink whiskey, but
we would be remiss if we did not encourage proper drinking etiquette regarding a fine
whiskey. Eagle Rare may not be top shelf, but it does not sit at the bottom either.
It comes at a not-insignificant price, and with the bourbon's smooth flavor
is not necessarily the whiskey you want to dilute or muddle with a mixer in a cocktail.
Of course, Eagle Rare has its own view on the topic.
Liquor.com recommends you enjoy Eagle Rare straight or perhaps simply on the rocks
with some ice. Those who need a more mellow experience may also find that this bourbon,
like so many other whiskeys, is more drinkable mixed with water
to open up the bourbon and dilute its harsher qualities.
According to The Whiskey Shelf, the Eagle Rare website once stated the whiskey
could be served neat or over ice. They also wrote that Eagle Rare could be used
in bourbon-based cocktails such as a Manhattan or whiskey sour.
However, the company's page no longer makes drinking suggestions,
and we suspect they will be happy with however you choose to enjoy their product.
Understanding the price point of Eagle Rare can get a little confusing. As with many of
the Buffalo Trace brands, Eagle Rare can be hard to find outside of the distillery, and therefore
when it is for sale, it may end up selling for well over the company's suggested sale price.
According to Gentleman Ranters, Eagle Rare's manufacturer's suggested retail price,
or MSRP, is set at about $30. This puts it roughly in the range of a standard, or mid-shelf, bourbon.
However, as noted, the MSRP is not the actual price you might pay for this bourbon. At liquor
marketplace Drizly, a bottle of Eagle Rare will cost nearly $90 — and that's before shipping.
You may wonder, then, if Eagle Rare is really worth the hit on your wallet.
Only you can judge, though fans will certainly argue in its favor. You may,
however, want to keep an eye out for it at a local store, unless you can take the cost of shipping.
At the price point often seen for a bottle of Eagle Rare, it's clear there's a greater
demand for the bourbon than there is supply. So finding bottles of this
stuff can be difficult even for the most dedicated of searchers. But why is that?
For one, as Gear Patrol notes, Eagle Rare has been designed to create a supply-demand market
in its favor by only releasing a limited number of products to distributors at any given time.
This is not new or even unique to Eagle Rare,
though. There is a whole market for what are called "allocated" bourbons
that use the same tactic to boost demand, according to Wine Enthusiast.
But this is not a ploy by Eagle Rare to make you pay more than you should for its bourbon.
Gentleman Ranters notes that the company hasn't raised the
price and has stated they do not intend to do so.
"You don't know how to drink. Your whole generation. You drink for the wrong reasons.
My generation? We drink because it's good."
However, by distributing Eagle Rare as an allocated liquor,
the distributors know they can charge super-premium fees for bottles.
Ramping up production would be one way of fixing this,
but we doubt the company will do that as they do not want to reduce
the quality of their fine bourbons or potentially take a hit to profits.
Eagle Rare is made by Buffalo Trace Distillery,
which produces several quality bourbons under different names and at different
price points. So how does Eagle Rare compare to some of its sister brands?
As per Bourbonr, the distillery uses two main mash bills for their bourbon, simply called #1
and #2. And two specialty mash bills, a wheated and a rye. While popular and coveted brands
such as Blanton's use mash bill #2, Eagle Rare shares its mash with brands like E.H. Taylor,
Jr. and the flagship and namesake bourbon of the distillery Buffalo Trace.
Whereas Eagle Rare is aged for 10 years and has strong notes of things like cocoa and spices,
E.H. Taylor, Jr. is thought to be aged for about seven and is generally considered more
peppery and with notes of vanilla, according to Whisky & Whiskey. While
some may prefer the more expensive and notoriously difficult to find Blanton's,
others argue that E.H. Taylor, Jr. is a comparable whiskey for a lot less.
Eagle Rare and Buffalo Trace make for an interesting matchup. Both labels use the same
mash bill and are even made in the same place. Moreover, since Eagle Rare is no longer a single
barrel, neither of them is. There are also some key differences between these two sister brands.
Both Eagle Rare and Buffalo Trace are thought to be aged
for around the same length of time — 10 years, according to Whiskey Watch.
Buffalo Trace is typically priced above Eagle Rare. If you want to try it,
you may find that Buffalo Trace is smooth with notes of brown sugar and anise. It is clear that,
while the two are different, you would probably not go wrong with a bottle of either.
The Eagle Rare bottle design has changed over the years. For example,
while the Eagle Rare 10-year is still commonly referred to with the age statement in its name,
it is no longer printed with that claim on the front of the bottle.
Instead, the age statement is now found on the back of the bottle.
On the front of the bottle, however, the name appears simply as Eagle Rare. This design
is distinct from the label's other varieties, the 17-year and Double Eagle Very Rare.
According to the Gentleman Ranters review of Eagle Rare, the brand design was
originally meant to play homage to Wild Turkey bourbon. Keeping with the similar bird theme,
the Eagle Rare bottle includes the brand's namesake eagle.
The image of the majestic bird swooping down toward water adorns the front below
the words Eagle Rare and the assurance that the bottle contains "Kentucky straight bourbon."
The bottle is clear, allowing the amber colors to contrast with the
white ink printed on the glass without the addition of a cumbersome label.
"Okay, 10 seconds."
"Here we go."
Leave the jewels and stacks of dollar bills to the movies,
as Eagle Rare was once involved in a serious real-life heist.
Gilbert Cutsinger was an employee behind the gates of Buffalo Trace when he and
eight other individuals worked together to take stock from the distillery and
sell the stolen product for a hefty price. Over the course of seven years, they managed to steal
28 bottles of Pappy Van Winkle, which can now sell for over $1,400 per bottle, per Drizly.
The group also managed to steal 20 barrels of Eagle Rare, with the overall haul
totaling over $100,000 in bourbon, according to The Drinks Business. One particular barrel of
Eagle Rare was even valued for over $10,000 at the time. The group went undetected until 2013,
when the missing cases began to be noticed and an inquiry was made.
Still the culprits weren't caught for two more years. After a tip in 2015,
police identified Curtsinger as the main culprit,
ultimately finding five barrels of Wild Turkey in his possession. He was arrested for the theft.
"Well, actually I have this bourbon that I brewed myself.
It'll either be the best thing you ever had or the last thing you'll ever have."