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Eagle Rare 12 Year vs Old Grand-Dad 114
Put Eagle Rare 12 Year next to Old Grand-Dad 114 and you have a classic, corn-forward stalwart set against a classic, high-rye stalwart.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Eagle Rare 12 Year | Old Grand-Dad 114 |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Traditional Bourbon | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 78% corn, 10% rye, 12% malted barley | 63% corn, 27% rye, 10% malted barley |
| Age | 12 years | No age statement |
| Proof | 95 proof (47.5% ABV) | 114 proof (57% ABV) +19 proof |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$50 – $80 | ~$28 – $35 ~$34 less |
| Availability | Allocated | Widely available easier to find |
- Eagle Rare 12 Year and Old Grand-Dad 114 do not publish an official mash bill.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.
Old Grand-Dad 114
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Eagle Rare 12 Year Old Grand-Dad 114
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
spice 5/9 spice: Eagle Rare 12 Year 5 out of 10, Old Grand-Dad 114 9 out of 10
heat 5/8 heat: Eagle Rare 12 Year 5 out of 10, Old Grand-Dad 114 8 out of 10
fruit 6/4 fruit: Eagle Rare 12 Year 6 out of 10, Old Grand-Dad 114 4 out of 10
sweetness 7/6 sweetness: Eagle Rare 12 Year 7 out of 10, Old Grand-Dad 114 6 out of 10
oak 7/6 oak: Eagle Rare 12 Year 7 out of 10, Old Grand-Dad 114 6 out of 10
nuttiness 4/5 nuttiness: Eagle Rare 12 Year 4 out of 10, Old Grand-Dad 114 5 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Rye spice is the dividing line 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 Grand-Dad 114: The best proof-per-dollar in American whiskey and it is not especially close. The 27% rye mash at 114 proof is loud, peppery and completely unsubtle, which is exactly why it makes such a good old-fashioned.
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 Grand-Dad 114 if you want maximum rye spice and proof for under thirty dollars without hunting for it.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks (Eagle Rare 12 Year); neat, old-fashioned, cocktails (Old Grand-Dad 114).