A little background

Eagle Rare 17 Year Old Kentucky Straight Bourbon is a highly anticipated release from the Buffalo trace Antique Collection. The 2020 release of Eagle Rare 17 Year Old was distilled in the spring of 2002 and released Fall 2020. Distillers Grade (#1 & #2) Kentucky Corn, Minnesota Rye, and North Dakota Distillers Malted Barley meld together for a unique mash bill. This bourbon was aged for 18 years and 6 months at the time of bottling and spent its time on the 1st floor of Warehouse P aging in a new white oak barrels that had a #4 char. 2021 Eagle Rare 17 Year Old was bottled at 101 proof and carries an MSRP of $99 USD.

(Tasted neat from a Glencairn Glass)

Color

Copper

Nose

Caramel, orange salt water taffy, herbal tea, nutmeg, vanilla, oak.

Palate

Cinnamon, caramel, lemon tea, orange peel, and plenty of woody oak.

Finish

Continued cinnamon, and vanilla, with additional notes of tawny port, leather, and more oak.

In closing

Without surprise, the 2021 release of Eagle Rare 17 Year Old Bourbon is quite good. At 18 years and 6 months, there is an obviously large amount of oak influence on this bourbon. The experience starts with a beautiful nose that will have you begging for a sip. The palate hits hard with a burst of big bold flavor before fading into a lengthy finish with a good bit of continued oak influence. Overall, this is a fantastic bourbon and is going to appeal to a drinker that enjoys extra aged bourbon that carry that dominant wood character.

NOTE: The sample used for this review was provided at no cost courtesy of Buffalo Trace. We thank them for the sample and for allowing us to review it with no strings attached.