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Eagle Rare 12 Year vs E.H. Taylor Jr. Small Batch
Comparing Eagle Rare 12 Year and E.H. Taylor Jr. Small Batch is a closer contest than it looks — both are traditional bourbons, separated mainly by proof (95 vs. 100).
Key Specifications
| Feature | Eagle Rare 12 Year | E.H. Taylor Jr. Small Batch |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Traditional Bourbon | Traditional Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 78% corn, 10% rye, 12% malted barley | 78% corn, 10% rye, 12% malted barley |
| Age | 12 years | No age statement |
| Proof | 95 proof (47.5% ABV) | 100 proof (50% ABV) +5 proof |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$50 – $80 | ~$45 – $90 |
- Eagle Rare 12 Year and E.H. Taylor Jr. Small Batch do not publish an official mash bill.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.
E.H. Taylor Jr. Small Batch
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Eagle Rare 12 Year E.H. Taylor Jr. Small Batch
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
sweetness 7/6 sweetness: Eagle Rare 12 Year 7 out of 10, E.H. Taylor Jr. Small Batch 6 out of 10
fruit 6/5 fruit: Eagle Rare 12 Year 6 out of 10, E.H. Taylor Jr. Small Batch 5 out of 10
spice 5/5 spice: Eagle Rare 12 Year 5 out of 10, E.H. Taylor Jr. Small Batch 5 out of 10
oak 7/7 oak: Eagle Rare 12 Year 7 out of 10, E.H. Taylor Jr. Small Batch 7 out of 10
heat 5/5 heat: Eagle Rare 12 Year 5 out of 10, E.H. Taylor Jr. Small Batch 5 out of 10
nuttiness 4/4 nuttiness: Eagle Rare 12 Year 4 out of 10, E.H. Taylor Jr. Small Batch 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.
- 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.
- E.H. Taylor Jr. Small Batch: Bottled-in-bond from the same low-rye Buffalo Trace recipe, and the extra 10 proof over standard BT gives it noticeably more grip. Butterscotch and tobacco with a long, drying finish that outlasts most bottles near its shelf price.
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 E.H. Taylor Jr. Small Batch if you want the Buffalo Trace house profile with real structure and a bonded 100-proof backbone.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks (Eagle Rare 12 Year); neat, rocks, old-fashioned (E.H. Taylor Jr. Small Batch).