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Four Roses Bourbon vs Eagle Rare 12 Year
Comparing Four Roses Bourbon and Eagle Rare 12 Year reveals a matchup between a traditional, spice-driven Kentucky staple and a traditional, even-keeled Kentucky staple.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Four Roses Bourbon | Eagle Rare 12 Year |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | Traditional Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 75% corn, 20% rye, 5% malted barley | 78% corn, 10% rye, 12% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | 12 years |
| Proof | 80 proof (40% ABV) | 95 proof (47.5% ABV) +15 proof |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$22 – $28 ~$40 less | ~$50 – $80 |
| Availability | Widely available easier to find | Allocated |
- Eagle Rare 12 Year does not publish an official mash bill.
- US shelf prices as of 2026-08; they vary widely by market.
AG’s Rating and AG’s Notes
Four Roses Bourbon
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Eagle Rare 12 Year
Top 3, behind George T. Stagg and Jack Daniel's 14.
Flavor Profile
Four Roses Bourbon Eagle Rare 12 Year
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
oak 3/7 oak: Four Roses Bourbon 3 out of 10, Eagle Rare 12 Year 7 out of 10
heat 2/5 heat: Four Roses Bourbon 2 out of 10, Eagle Rare 12 Year 5 out of 10
sweetness 6/7 sweetness: Four Roses Bourbon 6 out of 10, Eagle Rare 12 Year 7 out of 10
nuttiness 3/4 nuttiness: Four Roses Bourbon 3 out of 10, Eagle Rare 12 Year 4 out of 10
spice 5/5 spice: Four Roses Bourbon 5 out of 10, Eagle Rare 12 Year 5 out of 10
fruit 6/6 fruit: Four Roses Bourbon 6 out of 10, Eagle Rare 12 Year 6 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Oak is doing most of the differentiating here.
- 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.
- 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.
Which One Should You Choose?
- Go with Four Roses Bourbon if you want the Four Roses fruit-and-floral signature at its lightest and cheapest without hunting for it.
- 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.
Best enjoyed cocktails, highball, rocks (Four Roses Bourbon); neat, rocks (Eagle Rare 12 Year).