Standing tall, with a history that goes all back to 1975 is a 10 YO whiskey that was introduced when Charles L Beam, grand nephew of Jim Beam and fourth master distillery of Four Roses, catered to the luxury market. 10 YO whiskies weren’t that common then and even now serves more to the mid and upper tiers of bourbon lovers. The warmer temperate climate and the increased evaporation fastens maturation, leaving  more juice with every drop but less for the distillers to bottle.

Abv : 45%

Eye : Tawny, Natural Colouring

Nose : Dark caramel, cinnamon with star anise and cloves. A lovely sweetness, possibly coupled with a dash of white pepper, orange zest, bay leaves and charred wood.

Taste : Lots of sweetness emanating from a mix of caramel, dark chocolate, and orange peels. A dash of powdered cinnamon paired with cloves, star anise and pepper. Oaky with a bit of char.

Finish : Dry, warm and long | Cloves, cinnamon with the sweetness of caramel.

The Eagle Rare literally took me by surprise, a marriage of spice and rich sweetness that is rounded, well balanced and comes with restraint. There’s good breadth and complexity, and a lovely finish that keeps you on your toes. I’ve been on the fence with many Bourbons but this surely checks my boxes, keeping away from the sharpness and rather amateur like character I’ve felt with most bottom shelf bourbons.

For a 10 YO whiskey, at AUD 89, it might seem pricey but is certainly bang for buck. I can surely see this one taking real estate in my cabinet. It punches well above the norm, full of flavour, and finds itself in a decently placed price slot.

Let me know what you think!

Slainte!