Home Bourbon Eagle Rare 12-Year Bourbon Whiskey

Eagle Rare 12-Year Bourbon Whiskey

November 8, 2025 · By Matthew Evans · 8.6 / 10
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Whiskey Consensus Score
8.6 /10
Excellent
Score Breakdown
Nose
8.5
Palate
8.6
Finish
8.7
Complexity
8.6
Value
8.8
Consensus Score
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Nose
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8.6
/ 10
Our Verdict
Excellent

Eagle Rare 12yr from Buffalo Trace is a 95-proof, 12-year-old Kentucky Straight Bourbon crafted from Mashbill #1 and priced at $49.99 SRP.

The Good

  • Value
  • Balanced
  • Finish

The Bad

  • Availability
  • Limited availability
Eagle Rare 12-Year Bourbon Whiskey

A little background

Eagle Rare 12-Year Bourbon Whiskey is a Kentucky Straight Bourbon that’s produced by Buffalo Trace Distillery under the Sazerac Company portfolio. This Bourbon is aged a minimum of 12 years and is crafted from Buffalo Trace’s Mashbill #1. Eagle Rare 12 Yea is bottled at 95 proof and carries a $50 price tag.

This release is part of Buffalo Trace’s ongoing expansion and innovation efforts, joining Eagle Rare 10, Eagle Rare 17, Double Eagle Very Rare, and Eagle Rare 25 within the collection. 

(Tasted neat from a Glencairn Glass)

Color

Dark Gold

Nose

Caramel, vanilla, orange citrus, oak, cherry, and cocoa.

Palate

Dark cherry, toffee, brown sugar, cinnamon. maple syrup, and oak.

Finish

Vanilla, baking spice, cinnamon, toffee, leather, and oak.

In closing

Eagle Rare 12 Year Bourbon is a expansion to the already popular Eagle Rare Bourbon. The additional age provides deeper flavors of oak, dark fruit, and spice, elevating the whole tasting experience with little addition to the price. At 95 proof, it remains incredibly easy to drink. Almost too easy! As expected, Eagle Rare 12 Year is difficult to find in most markets and often sees inflated prices on the secondary market. At retail, Eagle Rare 12 Year is a wonderful Bourbon that will be enjoyed by both the enthusiast and novice.

Eagle Rare 12-Year Bourbon Whiskey

8.6

Nose

8.5/10

Palate

8.6/10

Finish

8.7/10

Complexity

8.6/10

Value

8.8/10

The Good

  • Value
  • Balanced
  • Finish

The Bad

  • Availability
  • Limited availability
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Bourbon Buffalo Trace Review

Every bottle on Whiskey Consensus is evaluated across five categories on a 1–100 scale. The five scores are averaged to produce a final overall score out of 10.

Nose
Aroma, complexity & first impressions
Palate
Flavor, balance & mouthfeel
Finish
Length, character & quality
Complexity
Depth, layers & evolution in the glass
Value
Quality relative to retail price
Score Rating What It Means
9.5 – 10.0ExceptionalOne for the history books
9.0 – 9.4OutstandingA benchmark expression
8.5 – 8.9GreatSeek this bottle out
8.0 – 8.4Very GoodAbove average in every way
7.5 – 7.9GoodWorth your money
7.0 – 7.4Above AverageA solid everyday pour
6.5 – 6.9AverageUnremarkable but drinkable
6.0 – 6.4Below AverageHard to recommend
5.5 – 5.9Hard PassBetter options at this price
0.0 – 5.4AvoidNot worth your time or money
Matthew Evans
About the Author
Matthew Evans
Whiskey Reviewer · Whiskey Consensus  · 541 posts

Matthew is the founder and visionary behind Whiskey Consensus. What began as a project to explore the Instagram platform and share a love for whiskey has evolved into so much more. Professionally, Matthew works in digital marketing as a solutions engineer and sales leader, bringing innovative strategies to the table. Outside of work, Matthew is an avid runner, as well as a car and watch enthusiast. He is also deeply committed to giving back to the community through various volunteer responsibilities.

More by Matthew Evans →
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