Table Of Contents

The Details

Rating 93
Style
American Whiskey
Whiskey
Produced In Kentucky
United States
ABV 47.5%
Availability Year Round
Price $50.00 
Reviewed By
Reviewed 2025-10-07

Eagle Rare 12 Bourbon 2025 Review

One of Buffalo Trace’s most consistent and popular brands, the Eagle Rare lineup features Kentucky straight bourbon whiskeys at a variety of value points. Eagle Rare 10 is the core, always-on product, with an MSRP around $40. Higher end expressions include Eagle Rare 17 — part of the annual Buffalo Trace Antique Collection — as well as the super-premium Double Eagle Very Rare (a 20 year expression) and the ultra-limited Eagle Rare 25, of which just a couple hundred bottles exist.

In June 2025, Buffalo Trace announced a new, middle-tier addition to the line: Eagle Rare 12, an expression two years older and five proof points higher than its 10 year sibling.

It’s the latest addition to a brand that dates back to the 1970s, which originated with Seagrams. Sazerac purchased the trademark in 1989 and eventually moved production to what is now known as Buffalo Trace, where the whiskey has been produced since around 1992. These days, all Eagle Rare products come from Buffalo Trace’s mash bill #1, the exact percentages of which remain a closely guarded secret.

Today, we’re trying out the new Eagle Rare 12, aged a minimum of a dozen years and bottled at 95 proof. Let’s see how it tastes!

Eagle Rare 12: Stats and Availability

Eagle Rare 12 carries a suggested retail price of $49.99. But that comes with a few caveats, including some beyond the manufacturer’s control.

During the heights of the Bourbon Boom and until a couple years ago, in some markets, demand greatly outstripped supply for “regular” Eagle Rare 10. It often commanded expensive markups at retail and frequently made its way onto the secondary market. Fortunately, prices have come back down and availability is up, likely due in part to the distiller’s ongoing $1.2 billion expansion.

Expect the same treatment for Eagle Rare 12, at least for a little while. Since the 12 year expression dropped in summer 2025, we’ve seen a range of markups, with some asking prices eclipsing $200. This seems to be a permanent or semi-permanent addition to Buffalo Trace’s portfolio, so I expect prices to normalize a bit as supply gradually catches up to demand. (Though it may take time to come into sync.)

Eagle Rare 12 Review

As with all of VinePair’s whiskey reviews, this was tasted in a Glencairn glass and rested for at least five minutes.

Nose

The nose kicks off with a nice trio of scents: chocolate-covered cherry cordials, almond extract, and sweet oak. It’s not exactly a “cherry bomb,” in the words of many a bourbon aficionado, but there’s noticeable fruit here. Hot praline is up next, existing somewhere at the intersection of nuts, caramel, and oak. Aromas of vanilla bean and naturally-sweetened cola linger just behind, additional (and perhaps unexpected) layers that play well with the other scents. A touch of clove oil accounts for most of the spice influence, largely relegated to the background but with enough oomph to pick up on.

Ethanol heat is appropriate for — or perhaps just a touch above — what one expects for 95 proof. Frankly, that’s probably a selling point: an older whiskey at a higher ABV should punch above its predecessor. I re-familiarized myself with the classic Eagle Rare 10 in the days before this review, and the 12 year version is immediately bolder and carries greater depth throughout the nose. That’s certainly due to the increase in proof and almost certainly due to the extended barrel influence — this is amped up in oak and just about everything else, with bigger hits of cherry and nut extract in particular.

Taste

Oaky caramel and barrel-aged maple syrup highlight the first sip. Maraschino cherry follows, lighter and brighter than on the nose, and without the chocolate element tagging along. A few more tastes, and the whiskey opens slightly into cherry vanilla cola, with touches of red apple, red grape skins, and watermelon candy. Those fruit elements mostly fade by the back palate, only to make a quick return on the finish. (More on that to come.)

Of course, there’s plenty of oak here. It’s not to the level of a “typical” Eagle Rare 17, but it’s elevated compared to the 10 year. It’s in this barrel influence that Eagle Rare 12 pulls off a tricky bit of alchemy. The bourbon ensconces a number of distinct flavors — bright cherry, that pronounced cola, even fruit candy — within an oaky coating, all without letting wood push them to the fringes of detectability.

Finish

The finish continues that consistent thread of sweet woody caramel, then layers in both black and Szechuan peppercorns. Heath Bar toffee and a tiny pop of tart baked apple join with oak for a final act that’s composed and on the long side. Overall, Eagle Rare 12 sticks a pretty nice landing.

Eagle Rare 12 Rating

93/100

Recap

Upon its announcement, Eagle Rare 12 had a near-gargantuan task: Improve upon one of the most beloved 10 year bourbons in existence. And it had to do that while remaining a distinct tier below Eagle Rare 17.

From the nose through to the finish, Eagle Rare 12 generally succeeds, boosting the baseline profile without turning up the oak so much as to make things unrecognizable. It’s a dram that could push a casual drinker’s boundaries when it comes to wood, but it’s unlikely to cause much if any complaint. And if I’m picking between the 10 year and 12 year, it’s not a particularly close heat. I’ll happily drink either, but Eagle Rare 12 takes this race. I’m already on the lookout for another bottle.

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93
POINTS
Eagle Rare 12 Bourbon 2025
One of Buffalo Trace’s most consistent and popular brands, the Eagle Rare lineup features Kentucky straight bourbon whiskeys at a variety of value points. Eagle Rare 10 is the core, always-on product, with an MSRP around $40. Higher end expressions include Eagle Rare 17 — part of the annual Buffalo Trace Antique Collection — as well as the super-premium Double Eagle Very Rare (a 20 year expression) and the ultra-limited Eagle Rare 25, of which just a couple hundred bottles exist. In June 2025, Buffalo Trace announced a new, middle-tier addition to the line: Eagle Rare 12, an expression two years older and five proof points higher than its 10 year sibling. It’s the latest addition to a brand that dates back to the 1970s, which originated with Seagrams. Sazerac purchased the trademark in 1989 and eventually moved production to what is now known as Buffalo Trace, where the whiskey has been produced since around 1992. These days, all Eagle Rare products come from Buffalo Trace’s mash bill #1, the exact percentages of which remain a closely guarded secret. Today, we’re trying out the new Eagle Rare 12, aged a minimum of a dozen years and bottled at 95 proof. Let’s see how it tastes!

Eagle Rare 12: Stats and Availability

Eagle Rare 12 carries a suggested retail price of $49.99. But that comes with a few caveats, including some beyond the manufacturer’s control. During the heights of the Bourbon Boom and until a couple years ago, in some markets, demand greatly outstripped supply for “regular” Eagle Rare 10. It often commanded expensive markups at retail and frequently made its way onto the secondary market. Fortunately, prices have come back down and availability is up, likely due in part to the distiller’s ongoing $1.2 billion expansion. Expect the same treatment for Eagle Rare 12, at least for a little while. Since the 12 year expression dropped in summer 2025, we’ve seen a range of markups, with some asking prices eclipsing $200. This seems to be a permanent or semi-permanent addition to Buffalo Trace’s portfolio, so I expect prices to normalize a bit as supply gradually catches up to demand. (Though it may take time to come into sync.)

Eagle Rare 12 Review

As with all of VinePair’s whiskey reviews, this was tasted in a Glencairn glass and rested for at least five minutes.

Nose

The nose kicks off with a nice trio of scents: chocolate-covered cherry cordials, almond extract, and sweet oak. It’s not exactly a “cherry bomb,” in the words of many a bourbon aficionado, but there’s noticeable fruit here. Hot praline is up next, existing somewhere at the intersection of nuts, caramel, and oak. Aromas of vanilla bean and naturally-sweetened cola linger just behind, additional (and perhaps unexpected) layers that play well with the other scents. A touch of clove oil accounts for most of the spice influence, largely relegated to the background but with enough oomph to pick up on. Ethanol heat is appropriate for — or perhaps just a touch above — what one expects for 95 proof. Frankly, that’s probably a selling point: an older whiskey at a higher ABV should punch above its predecessor. I re-familiarized myself with the classic Eagle Rare 10 in the days before this review, and the 12 year version is immediately bolder and carries greater depth throughout the nose. That’s certainly due to the increase in proof and almost certainly due to the extended barrel influence — this is amped up in oak and just about everything else, with bigger hits of cherry and nut extract in particular.

Taste

Oaky caramel and barrel-aged maple syrup highlight the first sip. Maraschino cherry follows, lighter and brighter than on the nose, and without the chocolate element tagging along. A few more tastes, and the whiskey opens slightly into cherry vanilla cola, with touches of red apple, red grape skins, and watermelon candy. Those fruit elements mostly fade by the back palate, only to make a quick return on the finish. (More on that to come.) Of course, there’s plenty of oak here. It’s not to the level of a “typical” Eagle Rare 17, but it’s elevated compared to the 10 year. It’s in this barrel influence that Eagle Rare 12 pulls off a tricky bit of alchemy. The bourbon ensconces a number of distinct flavors — bright cherry, that pronounced cola, even fruit candy — within an oaky coating, all without letting wood push them to the fringes of detectability.

Finish

The finish continues that consistent thread of sweet woody caramel, then layers in both black and Szechuan peppercorns. Heath Bar toffee and a tiny pop of tart baked apple join with oak for a final act that’s composed and on the long side. Overall, Eagle Rare 12 sticks a pretty nice landing.

Eagle Rare 12 Rating

93/100

Recap

Upon its announcement, Eagle Rare 12 had a near-gargantuan task: Improve upon one of the most beloved 10 year bourbons in existence. And it had to do that while remaining a distinct tier below Eagle Rare 17. From the nose through to the finish, Eagle Rare 12 generally succeeds, boosting the baseline profile without turning up the oak so much as to make things unrecognizable. It’s a dram that could push a casual drinker’s boundaries when it comes to wood, but it’s unlikely to cause much if any complaint. And if I’m picking between the 10 year and 12 year, it’s not a particularly close heat. I’ll happily drink either, but Eagle Rare 12 takes this race. I’m already on the lookout for another bottle.

Reviewed On: 10-07-2025
93
POINTS
Eagle Rare 12 Bourbon 2025
One of Buffalo Trace’s most consistent and popular brands, the Eagle Rare lineup features Kentucky straight bourbon whiskeys at a variety of value points. Eagle Rare 10 is the core, always-on product, with an MSRP around $40. Higher end expressions include Eagle Rare 17 — part of the annual Buffalo Trace Antique Collection — as well as the super-premium Double Eagle Very Rare (a 20 year expression) and the ultra-limited Eagle Rare 25, of which just a couple hundred bottles exist. In June 2025, Buffalo Trace announced a new, middle-tier addition to the line: Eagle Rare 12, an expression two years older and five proof points higher than its 10 year sibling. It’s the latest addition to a brand that dates back to the 1970s, which originated with Seagrams. Sazerac purchased the trademark in 1989 and eventually moved production to what is now known as Buffalo Trace, where the whiskey has been produced since around 1992. These days, all Eagle Rare products come from Buffalo Trace’s mash bill #1, the exact percentages of which remain a closely guarded secret. Today, we’re trying out the new Eagle Rare 12, aged a minimum of a dozen years and bottled at 95 proof. Let’s see how it tastes!

Eagle Rare 12: Stats and Availability

Eagle Rare 12 carries a suggested retail price of $49.99. But that comes with a few caveats, including some beyond the manufacturer’s control. During the heights of the Bourbon Boom and until a couple years ago, in some markets, demand greatly outstripped supply for “regular” Eagle Rare 10. It often commanded expensive markups at retail and frequently made its way onto the secondary market. Fortunately, prices have come back down and availability is up, likely due in part to the distiller’s ongoing $1.2 billion expansion. Expect the same treatment for Eagle Rare 12, at least for a little while. Since the 12 year expression dropped in summer 2025, we’ve seen a range of markups, with some asking prices eclipsing $200. This seems to be a permanent or semi-permanent addition to Buffalo Trace’s portfolio, so I expect prices to normalize a bit as supply gradually catches up to demand. (Though it may take time to come into sync.)

Eagle Rare 12 Review

As with all of VinePair’s whiskey reviews, this was tasted in a Glencairn glass and rested for at least five minutes.

Nose

The nose kicks off with a nice trio of scents: chocolate-covered cherry cordials, almond extract, and sweet oak. It’s not exactly a “cherry bomb,” in the words of many a bourbon aficionado, but there’s noticeable fruit here. Hot praline is up next, existing somewhere at the intersection of nuts, caramel, and oak. Aromas of vanilla bean and naturally-sweetened cola linger just behind, additional (and perhaps unexpected) layers that play well with the other scents. A touch of clove oil accounts for most of the spice influence, largely relegated to the background but with enough oomph to pick up on. Ethanol heat is appropriate for — or perhaps just a touch above — what one expects for 95 proof. Frankly, that’s probably a selling point: an older whiskey at a higher ABV should punch above its predecessor. I re-familiarized myself with the classic Eagle Rare 10 in the days before this review, and the 12 year version is immediately bolder and carries greater depth throughout the nose. That’s certainly due to the increase in proof and almost certainly due to the extended barrel influence — this is amped up in oak and just about everything else, with bigger hits of cherry and nut extract in particular.

Taste

Oaky caramel and barrel-aged maple syrup highlight the first sip. Maraschino cherry follows, lighter and brighter than on the nose, and without the chocolate element tagging along. A few more tastes, and the whiskey opens slightly into cherry vanilla cola, with touches of red apple, red grape skins, and watermelon candy. Those fruit elements mostly fade by the back palate, only to make a quick return on the finish. (More on that to come.) Of course, there’s plenty of oak here. It’s not to the level of a “typical” Eagle Rare 17, but it’s elevated compared to the 10 year. It’s in this barrel influence that Eagle Rare 12 pulls off a tricky bit of alchemy. The bourbon ensconces a number of distinct flavors — bright cherry, that pronounced cola, even fruit candy — within an oaky coating, all without letting wood push them to the fringes of detectability.

Finish

The finish continues that consistent thread of sweet woody caramel, then layers in both black and Szechuan peppercorns. Heath Bar toffee and a tiny pop of tart baked apple join with oak for a final act that’s composed and on the long side. Overall, Eagle Rare 12 sticks a pretty nice landing.

Eagle Rare 12 Rating

93/100

Recap

Upon its announcement, Eagle Rare 12 had a near-gargantuan task: Improve upon one of the most beloved 10 year bourbons in existence. And it had to do that while remaining a distinct tier below Eagle Rare 17. From the nose through to the finish, Eagle Rare 12 generally succeeds, boosting the baseline profile without turning up the oak so much as to make things unrecognizable. It’s a dram that could push a casual drinker’s boundaries when it comes to wood, but it’s unlikely to cause much if any complaint. And if I’m picking between the 10 year and 12 year, it’s not a particularly close heat. I’ll happily drink either, but Eagle Rare 12 takes this race. I’m already on the lookout for another bottle.

Reviewed On: 10-07-2025