Buffalo Trace Releases Eagle Rare 12 as Part of Its Permanent Lineup

Fans of Eagle Rare Bourbon are in for a treat. 

Buffalo Trace Distillery has just introduced a new addition to its lineup, featuring an older age statement, higher proof, and a suggested retail price aimed at (hopefully) not breaking the bank.

Debuting in June 2025, Eagle Rare 12 is the latest permanent addition to the Eagle Rare lineup. Similar to the well-known 10-year version, it’s a Kentucky straight bourbon whiskey crafted from Buffalo Trace’s Mashbill #1 — the exact recipe of which officially remains undisclosed, though guesses abound, and it’s generally believed to be a “low rye” mash bill. 

While Eagle Rare 10 is a 90-proof whiskey (45% ABV), Eagle Rare 12 is bottled at 95 proof (47.5% ABV), offering a moderately stronger pour. Company representatives say the additional age and proof add “exceptional depth, character and distinction” to the new whiskey.

The manufacturer’s suggested retail price for Eagle Rare 12 is $49.99. As with many sought-after American whiskeys, we may see a breadth of ranges at retail depending on the market.

According to Buffalo Trace, expanding the Eagle Rare line is partly due to the new production capacity resulting from a 10-year, $1.2 billion distillery expansion.  

“This whiskey represents more than just time in the barrel — it’s the result of years of dedication, innovation, and an unwavering commitment from our entire team,” Buffalo Trace master distiller Harlen Wheatley said in a statement. “The investments we’ve made — in time, resources, and effort — have allowed us to explore new possibilities in aging and flavor, and this release is a proud reflection of that journey.”

Eagle Rare was first introduced as a 10-year bourbon in the mid-1970s by Charles Beam at Seagrams. The brand was acquired by Sazerac, the parent company of Buffalo Trace, in 1989. At that time, Sazerac did not have its own bourbon distillery, so for about three years, the whiskey was sourced from Heaven Hill Distillery in Bardstown, Kentucky. Sazerac eventually relocated production to Buffalo Trace in Frankfort around 1992, where Eagle Rare has been produced ever since.

The new Eagle Rare 12 joins a lineup led by the ever-available Eagle Rare 10, alongside limited expressions such as Eagle Rare 17, Double Eagle Very Rare (a 20-year bourbon), and the ultra-limited Eagle Rare 25. Eagle Rare 17 is released annually as part of the Buffalo Trace Antique Collection. Aged for a minimum of 17 years, some bottlings go well beyond that, including a 19-plus year version in 2023. Eagle Rare 25 was the first product to come out of Buffalo Trace’s experimental Warehouse P, where the climate is tightly controlled to push aging boundaries in American whiskey. To date, it’s believed that only a few hundred bottles have been released to the public.

According to Buffalo Trace, Eagle Rare 12 is intended to be an “accessible bourbon” that consumers can expect to see released at regular intervals moving forward. Brand tasting notes indicate a “sweet, oaky aroma and delicate hints of almond.” The palate leans into vanilla, toasted oak, and toffee. 

Eagle Rare 12 launches in domestic markets in June 2025, with international distribution beginning this fall.