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Whiskey Review: Eagle Rare 17-Year-Old (2016)

We review the 2016 edition of Eagle Rare 17-Year-Old, part of the Buffalo Trace Antique Collection. Is it worth the mark up you'll inevitably pay for it?

OVERALL RATING

$90.00
  • Margarett Waterbury is a whiskey enthusiast and industry expert.
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Eagle Rare 17-year-old

Tasting Notes

About:

Appearance:
Warm amber
Nose:
Mmmm… Slightly overripe apricots, crisp peanut brittle, and buttery well-browned pie crust. There’s a bit more ethanol in the nose than I’d have expected for its relatively low proof. Despite its age, it retains a surprising, herbaceous freshness that reminds me of garden sage. Water really brings out a Sweetart, Smartie candy kind of aroma
Palate:
The entry is quite punchy and a little odd tasting, with some flashes of spicy fresh wood atop the integrated leather-and-smoke of the old. But the finish is delightful, all dusty potpourri and rose petals, with a long, lingering aftertaste of vanilla, fresh coconut, and fenugreek. There isn’t much sweetness here – it’s pretty lean, although as it sits for 20 minutes or so a bit of subtle sweetness emerges, like a slightly underripe plum. Unimproved by water. Final Thoughts: This is a yummy whiskey, but not what I would call truly seductive. The nose is lovely, and the finish is outstanding, but the entry and mid-palate fall a bit short of perfection. I’m left pining for a little sweetness to balance the aromatics – but still, a treat. Score: 88/100 [SHOP FOR A BOTTLE OF EAGLE RARE 17-YEAR-OLD] [scribd id=327347831 key=key-efuHfzXoef4JG7nJAICF mode=scroll]
Finish:
Comments:

Editor’s Note: This whiskey was either bought as a sample by The Whiskey Wash or provided to us as a review sample by the party behind it. Per our editorial policies, this in no way influenced the outcome of this review.

Margarett Waterbury

Margarett Waterbury is the author of "Scotch: A Complete Introduction to Scotland's Whiskies" and a full-time freelance writer and editor specializing in the beverage industry. Her work has graced the pages of numerous publications, including Whisky Advocate, Food and Wine, Spirited Magazine, Artisan Spirit, Edible Seattle, Sip Northwest, Civil Eats, Travel Oregon, and many others. She also boasts editorial experience as the former managing editor of Edible Portland and as a co-founder and former managing editor of The Whiskey Wash. In recognition of her talent, Margarett received the Alan Lodge Young Drinks Writer of the Year award in 2017 and was awarded fellowships for the Symposium for Professional Wine Writers in 2017 and 2019.

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