Bulleit 10 vs Eagle Rare: Which Wins?

Discover the differences between Bulleit 10 vs Eagle Rare in this in-depth comparison and decide which Bourbon is better for You!

Bulleit 10 Year Bourbon

• Nose: Rye spice, green apple, charred oak
• Palate: Charred oak, baking spice, pepper
• Finish: Medium length, spice, green apple, charred oak
• Alcohol content: 91.2 proof (45.6% ABV)
• How to drink: Add water, Rocks
• Similar to: Bulleit Bourbon, Russell’s 10

Taste:

The nose has a strong rye spice aroma, with some mint, green apple and charred oak.

On the palate you get a hit of charred oak, baking spice and black pepper on the first sip. But as you let it develop it provides fruit sweetness, vanilla, caramel and a tad of clove.

The first sip offers a good deal of spice and toasted oak making it taste like if it had a higher proof. But also provides a rich hint of fruit sweetness the regular Bulleit lacks.

It drinks nicely neat, yet you can make it sweeter with a drop of water while tuning-down the spice making it more enjoyable.

The finish has a medium length, is smooth, with very little warmth and burnt oak.

Is it good?

Bulleit 10 hits with the same spicy flavor as its younger and better known sibling.

It drinks nicely neat, yet you can make it sweeter with a drop of water while tuning-down the spice making it more enjoyable.

The 10 Year is a step-up over the regular Bulleit Bourbon, as it feels more robust and nuanced providing a better bourbon but for the same money you can get the Four Roses Single Barrel that blows away the Bulleit.

The Four Roses also uses a high rye mash providing the same spicy flavor.

Bulleit was crafted at the Four Roses Distillery until 2017, btw.

Bulleit 10 facts:

• Aged for 10 years in new, charred oak casks.

• Made using the same mash bill as the regular Bulleit Bourbon.

• Double gold medal at the 2021 San Francisco World Spirits Competition.

• Earned a score of 92 points from the Beverage Testing Institute in 2013.

• 91 points from the Wine Enthusiast.

Eagle Rare

• Nose: Toasted oak, orange peel, maple syrup
• Palate: Oak, dried fruit, vanilla, caramel, baking spice
• Finish: Oak, tobacco, leather
• Alcohol content: 90 proof (45% ABV)
• How to drink: Add water
• Similar to: Old Forester 1920, Widow Jane

The Eagle Rare is made at the Buffalo Trace Distillery using the same mash bill as the Buffalo Trace.

The difference lies in the aging as the Eagle Rare is aged for 10 years while the Buffalo Trace for 6.

Additional aging provides a dryer and oakier taste to the Eagle Rare making it feel like a grown-up version of the Buffalo Trace.

Taste:

Nose kicks-off with toasted oak, followed by orange peel, red fruit and maple syrup.

On the palate, the Eagle Rare shows a creamy body as the texture feels buttery.

First sip is strong in oak, but as you let it develop vanilla, dried fruit, caramel and baking spice pop-up bringing good balance to the dram.

The finish is long, providing a bit of a bite, with more oak to it, along old leather and tobacco notes.

Adding water brings a bit more of caramel, tunes-down the finish, although it remains oaky.

Is it good?

Eagle Rare might not be the best bourbon for beginners as it’s a bit too oaky, but it has plenty to appreciate as it drinks quite nicely.

A sweet and easy melow drinking bourbon at an affordable price given the quality, that doesn’t disappoint living up to its hype.

A great bourbon, a step-up over the Buffalo Trace and one of the best 10 year Old Whiskeys across the globe.

Eagle Rare facts:

• It ages for no less than 10 years in new, highly charred American oak barrels under the sun.

• The barrels are hand-picked for quality and consistency before bottling.

• The brand was launched in 1975 by Seagram, was later purchased by the Old Prentice Distillery and was acquired by Sazerac in 1989.

Bulleit 10 vs Eagle Rare: Price comparison

Prices are approximate and stated in USD:

Bourbon	Price
Bulleit 10 Year	$50
Eagle Rare	$51

Bulleit 10 vs Eagle Rare: Which is better?

Eagle Rare makes a better deal

Whiskey	Bulleit 10	Eagle Rare
Nose	✅	✅
Body	✅	✅
Palate	✅	✅
Finish	✅	✅
Value		✅

• These bourbons have different flavor profiles as the Bulleit hits with a spicy note due to the high rye content while the Eagle Rare offers a more traditional bourbon flavor profile.
• Bulleit is good, a step-up over the regular Bulleit but lacks the depth and complexity that a similar bourbon like the Four Roses Single Barrel offers for the same money.
• Eagle Rare is a nice easy drinker, drier and oakier than the Buffalo Trace due to the extended aging yet tasting like the grown-up version while delivering great value for the money.