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Eagle Rare 12 Year vs Old Forester Statesman
Put Eagle Rare 12 Year next to Old Forester Statesman and you have a classic, corn-forward stalwart set against a classic, high-rye stalwart.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Eagle Rare 12 Year | Old Forester Statesman |
|---|---|---|
| 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) | 95 proof (47.5% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$50 – $80 | ~$50 – $55 ~$13 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 Statesman
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Eagle Rare 12 Year Old Forester Statesman
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
oak 7/5 oak: Eagle Rare 12 Year 7 out of 10, Old Forester Statesman 5 out of 10
nuttiness 4/2 nuttiness: Eagle Rare 12 Year 4 out of 10, Old Forester Statesman 2 out of 10
sweetness 7/8 sweetness: Eagle Rare 12 Year 7 out of 10, Old Forester Statesman 8 out of 10
fruit 6/7 fruit: Eagle Rare 12 Year 6 out of 10, Old Forester Statesman 7 out of 10
heat 5/4 heat: Eagle Rare 12 Year 5 out of 10, Old Forester Statesman 4 out of 10
spice 5/5 spice: Eagle Rare 12 Year 5 out of 10, Old Forester Statesman 5 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.
- Old Forester Statesman: Old Forester's fruit-forward middle child, first made for a spy movie tie-in. Bright cherry and brown sugar lead, with cocoa and a touch of the house banana note.
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 Statesman if you want a bright, cherry-sweet Old Forester that sits between the 100 and 1920 in weight at a lower price point.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks (Eagle Rare 12 Year); neat, rocks, old-fashioned (Old Forester Statesman).