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Eagle Rare 12 Year vs Van Winkle Special Reserve 12 Year Lot B
Eagle Rare 12 Year and Van Winkle Special Reserve 12 Year Lot B sit on opposite sides of a familiar divide: an old-guard, classically built classic versus an old-guard, wheat-forward classic.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Eagle Rare 12 Year | Van Winkle Special Reserve 12 Year Lot B |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Traditional Bourbon | Wheated Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 78% corn, 10% rye, 12% malted barley | Not disclosed |
| Age | 12 years | 12 years |
| Proof | 95 proof (47.5% ABV) +5 proof | 90.4 proof (45.2% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$50 – $80 ~$470 less | ~$170 – $900 |
- Eagle Rare 12 Year and Van Winkle Special Reserve 12 Year Lot B do not publish an official mash bill.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.
Van Winkle Special Reserve 12 Year Lot B
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Eagle Rare 12 Year Van Winkle Special Reserve 12 Year Lot B
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
spice 5/3 spice: Eagle Rare 12 Year 5 out of 10, Van Winkle Special Reserve 12 Year Lot B 3 out of 10
heat 5/3 heat: Eagle Rare 12 Year 5 out of 10, Van Winkle Special Reserve 12 Year Lot B 3 out of 10
sweetness 7/8 sweetness: Eagle Rare 12 Year 7 out of 10, Van Winkle Special Reserve 12 Year Lot B 8 out of 10
oak 7/6 oak: Eagle Rare 12 Year 7 out of 10, Van Winkle Special Reserve 12 Year Lot B 6 out of 10
fruit 6/5 fruit: Eagle Rare 12 Year 6 out of 10, Van Winkle Special Reserve 12 Year Lot B 5 out of 10
nuttiness 4/3 nuttiness: Eagle Rare 12 Year 4 out of 10, Van Winkle Special Reserve 12 Year Lot B 3 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.
- Van Winkle Special Reserve 12 Year Lot B: Twelve-year wheated bourbon from the Van Winkle line. Soft and balanced, with butterscotch, toffee and caramel and a gentle, spiced finish.
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 at a significantly lower price point.
- Go with Van Winkle Special Reserve 12 Year Lot B if you want a soft, balanced, 12-year wheater from the Van Winkle line.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks (Eagle Rare 12 Year); neat (Van Winkle Special Reserve 12 Year Lot B).