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Eagle Rare 12 Year vs Bulleit Bourbon
Comparing Eagle Rare 12 Year and Bulleit Bourbon reveals a matchup between a traditional, even-keeled Kentucky staple and a sourced, spice-driven blend.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Eagle Rare 12 Year | Bulleit Bourbon |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Traditional Bourbon | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 78% corn, 10% rye, 12% malted barley | 68% corn, 28% rye, 4% malted barley |
| Age | 12 years | No age statement |
| Proof | 95 proof (47.5% ABV) +5 proof | 90 proof (45% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$50 – $80 | ~$25 – $32 ~$37 less |
| Availability | Allocated | Widely available easier to find |
- Eagle Rare 12 Year does not publish an official mash bill.
- US shelf prices as of 2026-10; they vary widely by market.
AG’s Rating and AG’s Notes
Eagle Rare 12 Year
Top 3, behind George T. Stagg and Jack Daniel's 14.
Bulleit Bourbon
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Eagle Rare 12 Year Bulleit Bourbon
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
sweetness 7/5 sweetness: Eagle Rare 12 Year 7 out of 10, Bulleit Bourbon 5 out of 10
spice 5/7 spice: Eagle Rare 12 Year 5 out of 10, Bulleit Bourbon 7 out of 10
oak 7/5 oak: Eagle Rare 12 Year 7 out of 10, Bulleit Bourbon 5 out of 10
fruit 6/5 fruit: Eagle Rare 12 Year 6 out of 10, Bulleit Bourbon 5 out of 10
heat 5/4 heat: Eagle Rare 12 Year 5 out of 10, Bulleit Bourbon 4 out of 10
nuttiness 4/3 nuttiness: Eagle Rare 12 Year 4 out of 10, Bulleit Bourbon 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
The clearest split is how sweet each one drinks.
- 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.
- Bulleit Bourbon: The bottle that put high-rye bourbon in every cocktail bar in the country. Peppery and dry with the familiar MGP dill note, and it earns its place behind the bar more than in a glass on its own.
Which One Should You Choose?
- Go with Eagle Rare 12 Year if you want an older, richer step up from Eagle Rare 10 with more brown sugar and oak.
- Go with Bulleit Bourbon if you want a dry, peppery, high-rye bourbon built for cocktails and available absolutely everywhere at a significantly lower price point.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks (Eagle Rare 12 Year); old-fashioned, cocktails, highball (Bulleit Bourbon).