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Van Winkle Special Reserve 12 Year Lot B vs Eagle Rare 12 Year
Van Winkle Special Reserve 12 Year Lot B and Eagle Rare 12 Year sit on opposite sides of a familiar divide: an old-guard, wheat-forward classic versus an old-guard, classically built classic.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Van Winkle Special Reserve 12 Year Lot B | Eagle Rare 12 Year |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Wheated Bourbon | Traditional Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | Not disclosed | 78% corn, 10% rye, 12% malted barley |
| Age | 12 years | 12 years |
| Proof | 90.4 proof (45.2% ABV) | 95 proof (47.5% ABV) +5 proof |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$170 – $900 | ~$50 – $80 ~$470 less |
- Van Winkle Special Reserve 12 Year Lot B and Eagle Rare 12 Year do not publish an official mash bill.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
Van Winkle Special Reserve 12 Year Lot B
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Eagle Rare 12 Year
Top 3, behind George T. Stagg and Jack Daniel's 14.
Flavor Profile
Van Winkle Special Reserve 12 Year Lot B Eagle Rare 12 Year
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
spice 3/5 spice: Van Winkle Special Reserve 12 Year Lot B 3 out of 10, Eagle Rare 12 Year 5 out of 10
heat 3/5 heat: Van Winkle Special Reserve 12 Year Lot B 3 out of 10, Eagle Rare 12 Year 5 out of 10
sweetness 8/7 sweetness: Van Winkle Special Reserve 12 Year Lot B 8 out of 10, Eagle Rare 12 Year 7 out of 10
oak 6/7 oak: Van Winkle Special Reserve 12 Year Lot B 6 out of 10, Eagle Rare 12 Year 7 out of 10
fruit 5/6 fruit: Van Winkle Special Reserve 12 Year Lot B 5 out of 10, Eagle Rare 12 Year 6 out of 10
nuttiness 3/4 nuttiness: Van Winkle Special Reserve 12 Year Lot B 3 out of 10, Eagle Rare 12 Year 4 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Rye spice is the dividing line here.
- 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.
- 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 Van Winkle Special Reserve 12 Year Lot B if you want a soft, balanced, 12-year wheater from the Van Winkle line.
- 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.
Best enjoyed neat (Van Winkle Special Reserve 12 Year Lot B); neat, rocks (Eagle Rare 12 Year).