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Eagle Rare 12 Year vs Four Roses Bourbon
Comparing Eagle Rare 12 Year and Four Roses Bourbon reveals a matchup between a traditional, even-keeled Kentucky staple and a traditional, spice-driven Kentucky staple.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Eagle Rare 12 Year | Four Roses Bourbon |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Traditional Bourbon | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 78% corn, 10% rye, 12% malted barley | 75% corn, 20% rye, 5% malted barley |
| Age | 12 years | No age statement |
| Proof | 95 proof (47.5% ABV) +15 proof | 80 proof (40% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$50 – $80 | ~$22 – $28 ~$40 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.
Four Roses Bourbon
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Eagle Rare 12 Year Four Roses Bourbon
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
oak 7/3 oak: Eagle Rare 12 Year 7 out of 10, Four Roses Bourbon 3 out of 10
heat 5/2 heat: Eagle Rare 12 Year 5 out of 10, Four Roses Bourbon 2 out of 10
sweetness 7/6 sweetness: Eagle Rare 12 Year 7 out of 10, Four Roses Bourbon 6 out of 10
nuttiness 4/3 nuttiness: Eagle Rare 12 Year 4 out of 10, Four Roses Bourbon 3 out of 10
spice 5/5 spice: Eagle Rare 12 Year 5 out of 10, Four Roses Bourbon 5 out of 10
fruit 6/6 fruit: Eagle Rare 12 Year 6 out of 10, Four Roses Bourbon 6 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Oak is doing most of the differentiating here.
- 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.
- Four Roses Bourbon: The yellow label entry point, blending all ten Four Roses recipes at a gentle 80 proof. Light and fruity to a fault, but the house floral character is already recognisable and it mixes beautifully.
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 with more proof behind it.
- Go with Four Roses Bourbon if you want the Four Roses fruit-and-floral signature at its lightest and cheapest without hunting for it.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks (Eagle Rare 12 Year); cocktails, highball, rocks (Four Roses Bourbon).