To honor the third release of Double Eagle Very Rare, Buffalo Trace pulled zero punches. Firmly seated in the heart of Kentucky, the Buffalo Trace Distillery created Eagle Rare back in 1975 to celebrate the bicentennial of the Declaration of Independence.
This two-decade-aged bourbon is the same juice as the 10 and 17 year. But that doesn’t mean the Very Rare is merely an older version of the same bourbon. Over 60% of bourbon’s character comes from the maturation process, and the finished product can vary significantly from barrel to barrel.
Old bourbon ages like the paint job on a vintage truck; the character of the patina depends on the climate where you park it, and the care the owner takes to preserve it. In the Double Eagle’s case, the barrels were parked in prime, lower (cooler) parts of the rickhouse, where temperature variations are less extreme throughout the year. The result is a classic, elegantly aged bourbon with exceptional complexity.
Let’s take a look under the hood!
Each of the 199 limited edition crystal decanters is hand-blown. Twin eagles—one functioning as the stopper and one on the bottom—adorn the 20-year-old bourbon resting inside. Sliding doors activate a spotlight illuminating the sculpted crystal eagle stoppers. And each bottle comes with an individually numbered letter of authenticity.
Few distilleries in the US possess the dedication (and budget) to produce such a display of national pride.
By honoring the bicentennial of the Declaration of Independence, Buffalo Trace makes a declaration of their own: the Double Eagle Very Rare is the collector’s ultimate whiskey.
Tasting Notes from the distillery:
“Even after two decades of aging in an oak barrel, this bourbon whiskey is surprisingly balanced. Hints of vanilla, toasted oak and caramel lead to a gracefully-aged oaky flavor. Like nothing you’ve ever tasted.”