Eagle Rare

History

Eagle Rare debuted in 1975 as a 101-proof, ten-year-old Kentucky straight bourbon from Seagram, crafted by Charles L. Beam. It arrived just before the small-batch bourbon trend took off. The Sazerac Company bought the brand from Seagram in March 1989. The original 101-proof, ten-year-old, non-single-barrel expression was discontinued in March 2005.

Varieties

The standard Eagle Rare is aged ten years and bottled at 90 proof. A seventeen-year variety, first offered in 2000 as part of an Antique Collection, was originally 90 proof; from the 2018 release it has been 101 proof.

In 2019, a 20-year-old limited edition called Double Eagle Very Rare at 101 proof was released with an MSRP of $2,000. A 25-year-old bourbon called Eagle Rare 25 was also produced in extremely limited quantity. A 12-year expression at 95 proof was announced in 2025.

Awards and reviews

Eagle Rare’s 10-year bourbon earned a 92 from the Beverage Testing Institute, an above-average score. In 2013, its Single Barrel Bourbon took home the first Bourbon Trophy at the UK’s International Wine & Spirits Competition. The 17-year expression has also done well. In 2016, the 10-year won a Gold Medal and Best Age Statement Bourbon at the World Whiskies Awards, plus a Gold Medal at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition.