Whiskey Review: Eagle Rare 17-Year (2024) Bourbon

Introduction

For the second time this season, we're reviewing Eagle Rare 17-Year. That alone is wild—after nine seasons of the podcast without ever getting our hands on a bottle, we've now had it twice in one season. Buffalo Trace has somehow let us into their good graces, despite everything Brad has said about them over the years.

This is the 2024 edition of Eagle Rare 17, which officially released in fall 2023 as part of the Buffalo Trace Antique Collection (BTAC). Earlier this season, we reviewed the 2023 edition, which Brad rated as one of the best whiskeys he’s ever had on the podcast—an astonishing 45.5/50 score. So, this release has a lot to live up to.

A few key stats:

• Age: 17 years, 4 months
• Proof: 101 (50.5% ABV)
• Evaporation Loss: 86% (only 14% of the original liquid survived maturation)

With all that in mind, let’s dive into the 2024 Eagle Rare 17 and see how it stacks up.

This review is taken from our episode "Once Upon a Time...in Hollywood (2019) / Eagle Rare 17-Year Bourbon (2024) ft. Noah Gittell." Click the link to listen to this review in audio format.

Nose

Bob: I don’t know if it’s the Glencairn I’m using, but this immediately hit me with perfumey, almost cologne-like notes. I get floral elements, some Old Spice vibes—really throwing me off. But once I get past that, I’m finding classic bourbon notes with a bit of that dusty, floral Will It Funk. There’s tart berry and some richness here. I’m giving it a 9/10.

Brad: This nose is wild and complex. There’s cranberry, a really nice bready note, some chocolate cacao nibs, caramel. It’s fresh and vibrant. I think it’s really solid—I’m at 8.5/10.

Taste

Brad: This has so much going on. There’s baker’s chocolate, cinnamon, graham cracker, and a mixed berry tart quality—like a flaky pastry with tart fruit. It’s delicious. 9/10.

Bob: Eagle Rare has always had that spicy, peppery punch, and this one delivers. It drinks hotter than 101 proof, but not in an unpleasant way. What’s standing out to me is a super fresh, ripe peach note. It reminds me of a summertime whiskey—really classic Eagle Rare, with a more refined oakiness but no overwhelming char. I love this. 9/10.

Finish

Brad: This finish stands out. The oakiness gives it a firm foundation, and it brings out even more of that cranberry note. It reminds me of baked oatmeal with mixed berry yogurt on top. This is a 9.5/10 finish for me.

Bob: I really love the flavors on the finish, but it lacks some creaminess and viscosity. It gets a little thin—meaning the ethanol lingers, but the flavors dissipate too quickly. Still solid, but I wish it had more weight to it. 8.5/10.

Balance

Brad: This is a well-balanced whiskey—there’s complexity, all the notes work together, and nothing feels out of place. 9/10.

Bob: I agree. This feels like a more complete bourbon than most of the BTACs we had last year. It’s not the most transcendent BTAC we’ve ever had, but it feels special. 9/10.

Value

Brad: BTAC is always a tricky one when it comes to value. MSRP is $150, but we all know that’s not what most people are paying. In the world of luxury whiskey, this doesn’t quite reach the absolute peak of what I’d want from a BTAC release. I think it should be slightly higher proof. 7/10.

Bob: "’m going 7.5/10 here. I just did a side-by-side with the 2023 release, and while the 2023 was thicker and had a dark wine grape character, it tipped way too bitter on the back end. I prefer this new one because it doesn’t have that overwhelming tannic quality. But in the world of $150+ bottles, I think it’s fair to be a little critical.

Final Scores

• Bob: 43/50
• Brad: 43/50
• Overall: 86/100

For context, we typically start recommending a bottle at 35/50, with 40/50 being great, and 45/50 being excellent.

Brad: For the level of notoriety BTAC has, I need a 45/50 to say it’s truly worth the hype. I don’t think the 2024 edition quite gets there. The 2023 Eagle Rare 17 felt more special.

Bob: We landed on the exact same score, but for me, this is an achievement, and for Brad, it’s a letdown. So, do with that what you will. If you have the chance to try this at a bar for a reasonable price, it’s absolutely worth it. But as a full bottle purchase? That’s going to depend on how much you love Eagle Rare.

Brad: If you have a choice between this and other BTACs, or even last year’s Eagle Rare 17, I’d say go elsewhere. If this is your only BTAC option, then sure, it’s a great pour.