Eagle Rare 17 Year Old, Antique Collection 2025
Bottled at 101 proof (50.5%) in honor of the original 1975 brand, this year’s Eagle Rare was actually aged beyond its famous 17-year statement – at 18 years and four months. Staying true to its brand, however, Buffalo Trace has still labelled it as 17 years old.
Nose
Cherry, menthol, vanilla, tobacco
Palate
Sherbet, lemon, lime, earth, forest floor
Finish
Oak spice, cream
Cherry cola, sherbet and menthol create a lively start. The palate continues that theme: bright citrus, dry tannin and earthy notes. Despite its punch, the structure is balanced and the tannins stay in check. It ends dry but creamy, showing impressive maturity.
A really huge hit of flavor on first sniff, almost takes your breath away. You need to get past this whiskey's ABV before you can get any sense of it. There are rich caramel notes: vanilla extract, burnt sugar, complemented by toasted oak. Surprisingly drinkable at cask strength but the mature notes take precedence, including dry tobacco and toasted oak. A few drops of water bring out those typical bourbon flavors: vanilla, caramel and a hint of tropical fruit.
Despite spending more than 18 years in Kentucky’s heat, it hasn’t tipped into wood juice; the nose gives vivid plum, cherry, wild strawberry and rhubarb compote over vanilla ice cream. The palate follows with apple pie and cinnamon, conference pears, coconut rum and chocolate-dipped raisins, balanced by old-style cola, aged black tea and a splash of Japanese plum wine, with a clear through line to the dependable Eagle Rare 10. It would make a fine, if expensive, Old Fashioned. The finish brings aged tobacco leaf, buttery leather, Dundee cake and soft vanilla, with a faint pencil-shaving note showing the cask but not spoiling the result.
