Toasted sugar | White peppercorn | Aged oak | Baking spice | Hints of vanilla | Light cinnamon baked apples | Lovely opening to the sip

Vanilla | Crème brûlée | Tart apple | Cinnamon syrup | Hints of dark fruits | Nicely balanced

Dry oak | Peppercorn | Dry leather | Earthy | Fleeting vanilla | Warming heat | Dry & short

This year's Eagle Rare 17 Year continues the trend of recent years and arrives with a 101 proofpoint and a true age that exceeds its 17 year age statement. While not the highest aged Eagle Rare 17 Year released, its 18 years and 6 months resting in barrels is certainly near the top. With such age there is often a fine line between being balanced versus being over oaked. Thankfully, Eagle Rare 17 tends to skew towards the former.

The sip opens with a lovely bouquet of scents in the nose. The soiree of sugars and sweet aromas with a hint of oak provides a fantastic opening to the sip, one that makes you want to linger on it before diving in. The rest of the sip follows suit, with a more straightforward but nicely balanced palate, and a finish that while good, is a tad dry and short. Ending on this dry crisp note is clearly the low point of the sip. Overall, Eagle Rare 17 Year delivers a great pour that walks the line between oaky flavors that are characteristic of a higher aged bourbon and more lively flavors that add dimension. The higher age and higher proof has treated this brand well recently, and while it still has to correct a few of its shortcomings, Eagle Rare 17 Year may one day become the standout of the Collection if it continues this trend.