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Eagle Rare 12 Year vs Old Forester 100 Proof
Put Eagle Rare 12 Year next to Old Forester 100 Proof and you have a classic, corn-forward stalwart set against a classic, high-rye stalwart.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Eagle Rare 12 Year | Old Forester 100 Proof |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Traditional Bourbon | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 78% corn, 10% rye, 12% malted barley | 72% corn, 18% rye, 10% 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 | ~$26 – $32 ~$36 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.
Old Forester 100 Proof
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Eagle Rare 12 Year Old Forester 100 Proof
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
spice 5/6 spice: Eagle Rare 12 Year 5 out of 10, Old Forester 100 Proof 6 out of 10
oak 7/6 oak: Eagle Rare 12 Year 7 out of 10, Old Forester 100 Proof 6 out of 10
fruit 6/5 fruit: Eagle Rare 12 Year 6 out of 10, Old Forester 100 Proof 5 out of 10
nuttiness 4/3 nuttiness: Eagle Rare 12 Year 4 out of 10, Old Forester 100 Proof 3 out of 10
sweetness 7/7 sweetness: Eagle Rare 12 Year 7 out of 10, Old Forester 100 Proof 7 out of 10
heat 5/5 heat: Eagle Rare 12 Year 5 out of 10, Old Forester 100 Proof 5 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.
- Old Forester 100 Proof: The bottle most people should buy from this range: the same recipe as the 86 with enough proof to actually taste it. One of the strongest arguments on the shelf for spending six dollars more.
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 Old Forester 100 Proof if you want the best value in the Old Forester range and a superb old-fashioned base without hunting for it.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks (Eagle Rare 12 Year); neat, rocks, old-fashioned, cocktails (Old Forester 100 Proof).