![]() The mouthfeel is buttery and the fruits all taste jammy. I think it keeps each sip from being too one-dimensional. I’m surprised with the amount of citrus zest I can taste because I would normally associate that with a younger whiskey. Notes of blackberry, lemon and cherry lend a lush, fruity punch that accompanies toasted sugars. Palate: A really delicious and fascinating wood note shows age without overpowering the mouth with tannins. They add complexity that I would normally not expect from this kind of pour. What I find interesting is the faint amount of herbal and saltwater taffy notes that I pick up that I would not normally associate with Buffalo Trace Mash Bill #1. Notes of cinnamon dust coupled with fragrant, pipe tobacco and sweet oak give it an aged and spiced depth.īrulée’d sugar, candied orange peel, blackberry jam and a hint of peppermint candy give both a sweet and fruity character to each sniff. Vanilla beans are the most distinct scent followed by cherry pie complete with buttery crust. I find it to be a work of art in how well the aged notes are working here in harmony. So pull up a seat and let’s see what awaits inside this year’s ER17. Thanks to my good friend, that’s exactly what I intend to do. I needed to try this one for myself to find out the real truth. Many reviews that cover previous Eagle Rare 17 releases are chock full of descriptions that describe it as being too oaky or “flat.” I can see that being the case but for a distillery with such acumen, it’s hard to believe Buffalo Trace tasters would let poor barrels into this batch. This is commonly referred to as being “over-oaked.” Many times, extreme age can cause the oak influence to overtake all other flavors. As such, its only competitors in 2021 appear to be Michter’s 20 Year, Elijah Craig 18 Year and the Pappy Van Winkle 20 and 23-Year versions.īut age is not everything in bourbon. That’s almost unheard of in any modern bourbon. The 2021 release I’m reviewing today comes in at 18 years and 6 months old. In truth, it’s always been much older than that. The 17-year age statement is meant to indicate that’s the youngest the bourbon will be. This was a nod to the original bottle’s proof when it was first released by Seagram’s in 1975. The 2021 release comes in at 18 years and 6 months old In the past, it was bottled at 90 proof (the same proof as the 10-year-old version) but was changed to 101 proof in 2018. Today I’m getting my first ever drink of Eagle Rare 17 because of a friend who is as giving as he is kind.Įagle Rare 17 is one of the five annual releases in the Buffalo Trace Antique Collection and among the top 2 rarest (Sazerac 18 Year Rye Whiskey being the other). These friends are what makes the whole bourbon scene feel like such a community.īourbon is all about sharing and it creates friendships among people who may never have met or interacted in the first place. With so many new releases each year, there is always going to be something out there that is easier for me to chase.īut sometimes you meet a friend who has the access to some of those bottles you never thought you’d be able to taste. Unless I win one in a raffle or lottery, my chances of buying (or even tasting) one is virtually nil.Īnd I’m okay with that! Many reviewers and hobbyists pout and complain that they can’t get their hands on a particular allocated release, but I have learned to accept it and move on. The third group contains bottles that I know I will never find.īuffalo Trace Antique Collection bottles frequently fall into the latter. ![]() The second group are bottles that will take a lot of work to find. The first group are bottles that I believe will be easy to find. When I scroll through these calendars, I typically sort the bottles I see into three groups. These “release calendars” list the specific month (and sometimes day) that specific bottles “drop.” ![]() There are resources online that many people use to find out when new bottles come out. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.įor a lot of enthusiasts out there, the secret to grabbing that special bottle has more to do with preparation than with luck. ![]()
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