Eagle Rare 17 Year Old Summer 2019 Bourbon Whiskey - 70cl 50.5%

Eagle Rare is a historic bourbon brand, originally developed by Seagram in 1975 in an effort to capitalise on what it felt were the popular marketing motifs used by Wild Turkey.

Distilled at their Four Roses distillery, the recipe was devised by Charles L. Beam and was sold as a 10 year old with both a 90 and 101 proof version available.

Seagram held ambitions beyond the drinks industry however, and in an effort to diversify their portfolio in the 1980s, they sold Eagle Rare along with the Benchmark brand to the Sazerac Company. 

They initially bottled it using barrels sourced from Heaven Hill, but later moved production to Buffalo Trace in 1992.

The 17 year old Eagle Rare was introduced in 2000, using bourbon distilled at George T. Stagg in the early 1980s.

It has been released annually every year as part of the Buffalo Trace Antique Collection, a selection of whiskies collated and in some cases created to pay homage to the history of the company and its brands.

Historically a 90 proof bourbon, the strength was increased 101 proof in 2018, the first product of that strength this the equivalent 10 year old was discontinued in 2005.

Nose: Dark candied fruit, cigar boxes, cinnamon.

Palate: Delicate and dry. Hints of leather, vanilla and tobacco.

Finish: Lingering, with a hint of toffee.