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Buffalo Trace vs Eagle Rare 12 Year
Buffalo Trace and Eagle Rare 12 Year are cut from similar cloth: two takes on traditional bourbons, where the real difference is price (~$28 – $35 vs. ~$50 – $80).
Key Specifications
| Feature | Buffalo Trace | Eagle Rare 12 Year |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Traditional Bourbon | Traditional Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 78% corn, 10% rye, 12% malted barley | 78% corn, 10% rye, 12% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | 12 years |
| Proof | 90 proof (45% ABV) | 95 proof (47.5% ABV) +5 proof |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$28 – $35 ~$34 less | ~$50 – $80 |
| Availability | Limited easier to find | Allocated |
- Buffalo Trace and Eagle Rare 12 Year do not publish an official mash bill.
- US shelf prices as of 2026-08; they vary widely by market.
AG’s Rating and AG’s Notes
Buffalo Trace
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Eagle Rare 12 Year
Top 3, behind George T. Stagg and Jack Daniel's 14.
Flavor Profile
Buffalo Trace Eagle Rare 12 Year
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
sweetness 6/7 sweetness: Buffalo Trace 6 out of 10, Eagle Rare 12 Year 7 out of 10
oak 6/7 oak: Buffalo Trace 6 out of 10, Eagle Rare 12 Year 7 out of 10
fruit 5/6 fruit: Buffalo Trace 5 out of 10, Eagle Rare 12 Year 6 out of 10
heat 4/5 heat: Buffalo Trace 4 out of 10, Eagle Rare 12 Year 5 out of 10
spice 5/5 spice: Buffalo Trace 5 out of 10, Eagle Rare 12 Year 5 out of 10
nuttiness 4/4 nuttiness: Buffalo Trace 4 out of 10, Eagle Rare 12 Year 4 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
These two land close together on every flavor axis — the differences are in texture and proof more than character.
- Buffalo Trace: The reference-point Kentucky bourbon: balanced brown sugar and vanilla sweetness, a whisper of mint, and just enough oak and spice to keep it interesting. Nothing is loud, which is exactly the point at 90 proof.
- Eagle Rare 12 Year: Two more years and five more proof points than Eagle Rare 10. Brown sugar and toffee lead, with a drier, more astringent oak finish.
Which One Should You Choose?
- Go with Buffalo Trace if you want the balanced, everyday Kentucky benchmark that does nothing wrong at a fair price without hunting for it.
- Go with Eagle Rare 12 Year if you want an older, richer step up from Eagle Rare 10 with more brown sugar and oak.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks, old-fashioned, cocktails (Buffalo Trace); neat, rocks (Eagle Rare 12 Year).