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Whiskey Review: Eagle Rare 17-Year-Old 2017

We review the Eagle Rare 17-Year-Old 2017 edition, the older sibling of back bar favorite bourbon Eagle Rare and one of the five whiskeys released as part of the Buffalo Trace Antique Collection.

OVERALL RATING

8
  • Margarett Waterbury is a whiskey enthusiast and industry expert.
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Tasting Notes

About:

17 years old, 90 proof.
Appearance:
Apricot amber
Nose:
Right off the bat, it’s very sweet and sugary, with notes of vanilla, custard, powdered sugar, and well-baked shortbread. As it rests in the glass, waxy, fruity aromas emerge, like an orange-scented candle. I also notice a roasty quality, with corn kernels, leather, nutmeg, and black pepper. The aroma is very pleasant.
Palate:
On the palate, it’s not as sweet as the nose would suggest. There’s a lean quality to the palate, but it’s pleasant—taught, not tight. A feather-light entry introduces a mid-palate burnt sugar bitterness adorned with orange peel, cherry, and vanilla bean. Although there’s minimal tannin, it’s not slick—there’s texture here, but it’s understated—velvet, not corduroy. The drinking experience isn’t as “easy” as years past, but rewarding all the same. The finish is of moderate length, with nice integrated oak and a bit of side-of-tongue tartness to keep things fresh.
Finish:
Comments:
Buffalo Trace’s press release says Master Distiller Harlen Wheatley found this year’s Eagle Rare 17-Year-Old “more rounded and full of flavor.” That seems like an apt assessment to me—this was sweeter and richer than last year’s expression, with less dried flower and herb and more canonical toffee-like bourbon flavor. A deeply satisfying sipper.rnrn

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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