Tom Bulleit, the founder of Bulleit Bourbon is one of the most successful non-distiller producers (NDP). They have three major products, which include their famous small batch Bulleit Bourbon, their Bulleit Rye (which is 95% rye), and most recently, a yearly release of a limited edition 10 year "Premium" Bourbon. The bourbon is made at Four Roses, which is in Lawrenceburg, Kentucky. Bulliet whiskeys stand out from many other products as they are known for having more rye in the mash bill. This release is bottled at 91.2 proof and was purchased for $49.
Color: Foggy Orange Nose: This has a rich nose full of caramel chews, vanilla, cherries and citrus. Maple, spearmint corn and raisins are also present. A bit of varnish here and for being 10 years old, the was oak influence is surprisingly strong. Taste: Thick mouthfeel (plus points in my book) with a mellow flavor profile. Vanilla, apple and orange peel are at the center of this bourbon. A nice marshmallow note coats the tip of my tongue along with a subtle spearmint and coffee bean note. Similar to the nose, the oak forces it's way into the mix along with rye and pepper spice. Finish: Medium in length. Spearmint lingers until the baking spices and oak dry out my palate. Conclusion: The oak influence is big and if you are a fan of woody/drier bourbons than this is for you. At 91.2 proof it is very easy to drink neat. The extra age really seems to cut out the sharp edges when compared to its younger brother. Now, is it worth the extra $20 dollars over the no age statement Bulleit bourbon..yes, yes it is. My Rating: B+ (Very Good) My Review:
Bottled in Iowa, Templeton Rye, or "The Good Stuff" is a Pre-Prohibition Era recipe. As the story goes, this was Al Capone's whiskey of choice and it quickly found it's way to the center of the bootlegging empire. "...Uncle Al's favorite whiskey was the good stuff from Iowa...legends suggest that a few bottles even found their way inside the walls of Alcatraz to the cell of prisoner AZ-85." With that being said, this uses the Midwestern Grain Products (MGP) recipe, so we are talking 95% rye in the mash bill. It is bottled at 80 proof and there is no age statement on the label, therefore we can assume it is a very young whiskey.
Color: Bright honey Nose: A subtle nose with a very heavy rye push with hints of evergreen.Baked apple, pie crust, vanilla, honey, white grapes. Taste: A very light mouthfeel. A sleek rye spice, evergreen, standard MGP style herbal notes, vanilla wafers and white pepper. Finish: Rye spice, evergreen and subtle pepper vanish for a quick finish. Conclusion: The rye spice is masking a lot of the sweeter flavors that you would expect (...hope?) to pop in a young rye whisky. At $40 a bottle, the price tag is a bit steep. The 80 proof makes for a very drinkable pour but really drops my rating. I've said it before and I will say it again, I would love to see this at a higher proof. My Rating: C (Decent) Video Review:
Hello my bourbon friends! I wanted to kick off the month of May with something special- I figured it should be a review from one of my favorite distilleries and I also wanted to do something that I have not done before. I am excited bring you the reader (and watcher for those of you who subscribe to our youtube channel) the first, of many, comparison reviews! With the help of my bourbon brother (@Jeff_Ewart) we sat down and decided to compare Eagle Rare 10 and Eagle Rare 17. Eagle Rare 10 90 Proof, Single Barrel, 10 years old. Color: Dark Copper Nose: Sweet and elegant. Vanilla, brown sugar, cherry pie, floral, honey, cinnamon, subtle rye. Taste: Sweetness on the tip of the palate. Medium bodied mouthfeel with little to no burn. Caramel candies, vanilla, rye, baking spices, clove, oak. Finish: Fairly long and warming. Eagle Rare 17 Spring 2013 Release- After reviewing the fact sheet that was provided by BuffaloTrace, the age for this release of ER 17 is actually 19 years. The year of Distillation was Spring of 1993 and the bottling year was Spring of 2013. Like its younger brother, it is also a single barrel and bottled at 90 proof. Color: Rustic Amber Nose: Cigar box, tobacco, brown sugar, candied fruits, cinnamon. Taste: Medium mouthfeel, very smooth. Subtle rye spice. Tobacco, black pepper, leather, and oak take the bull by the horns and never let go. Finish: Very long. Leaves the palate very dry. Tobacco, pepper, and oak linger. Conclusion: The 10 year is a
well balanced bourbon that is very smooth and sweet for sitting 10 years
in the oak. I enjoyed this, and at $25-30 a bottle, I will eventually
buy it again. The 17 year is fairly one dimensional in comparison to its younger brother. However, what it does it does well, and if you are a fan of the dry, tobacco and cigar box style flavor profile, you will love Eagle Rare 17. It certainly fills a special niche in the Buffalo Trace Antique Collection.While both are in the very good category, I have to prefer the 10 year givin the overall balance, price, and availability. Rating for both: B+ (Very Good)
