The bottle bourbon hunters are chasing — on our shelf in Colorado Springs.
Buffalo Trace's deeper, older, 95-proof expression, aged a minimum of twelve years. It's allocated, it moves fast, and right now we have it at 3 Thirsty Goats. When it's gone, it's gone.
Eagle Rare 12 Year is a 95-proof (47.5% ABV) Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey from Buffalo Trace Distillery, aged a minimum of twelve years and launched in June 2025 as a permanent addition to the Eagle Rare lineup. It is distilled from Buffalo Trace's Mash Bill #1, the same low-rye recipe behind the distillery's most celebrated bourbons.
Where the iconic Eagle Rare 10 is bottled at 90 proof, the 12 Year steps up to 95 proof and carries two extra years of maturation in new charred American oak. Unlike the single-barrel format of the 10 Year, the 12 is small-batch blended — hand-selected from meticulously monitored warehouses for consistency without losing its bold, mature character.
The result rewards patience: smoother, weightier, and noticeably more complex. For collectors and everyday sippers alike it hits a rare sweet spot of age, proof, and approachability — which is exactly why it disappears from shelves so quickly.
Toasted vanilla and honey lead, layered with almond and a whisper of soft leather.
Balanced and smooth — dried fruit, caramel, seasoned oak, and a wave of toffee.
Long and warming, with lingering oak spice and a dark, sweet close.
The most common question we hear. Here's the side-by-side:
| Eagle Rare 10 Year | Eagle Rare 12 Year | |
|---|---|---|
| Age | 10 years | 12 years (minimum) |
| Proof | 90 proof (45% ABV) | 95 proof (47.5% ABV) |
| Format | Single-barrel heritage | Small-batch blended |
| Mash bill | Buffalo Trace Mash #1 | Buffalo Trace Mash #1 |
| Released | 2005 (flagship) | June 2025 |
| Character | Smooth, approachable | Richer, deeper, more mature |
Eagle Rare 12 shines neat or with a splash of water to open up its layers. At 95 proof it also holds its own beautifully in a bourbon-forward classic. Two we'd pour:
Allocated bottles like Eagle Rare 12 rarely sit still. The surest way to take one home is to come by while it's on the shelf — our team can point you straight to it.
3 Thirsty Goats · 4150 Austin Bluffs Pkwy, Colorado Springs, CO 80918
Get DirectionsYes — it's on the shelf right now at 3 Thirsty Goats, 4150 Austin Bluffs Pkwy. Because the release is allocated, quantities are limited, so we recommend stopping in soon.
The 12 Year is aged two years longer and bottled at a higher 95 proof (47.5% ABV) versus the 10 Year's 90 proof. It's small-batch blended for a richer, deeper, more mature profile.
It launched in June 2025 as a permanent addition to the Eagle Rare lineup from Buffalo Trace Distillery.
Neat or with a splash of water to open up its layers. At 95 proof it also makes an outstanding Old Fashioned or Boulevardier — recipes above.
Stock on allocated releases changes by the hour. Give the store a quick call to check current availability before you head over.
Hunting more allocated bottles? Browse the rest of our rare bourbon shelf in the 3 Thirsty Goats Whiskey Cellar. Product specifications on this page are verified against the official Buffalo Trace Distillery listing for Eagle Rare 12 Year.