Buffalo Trace Distillery has announced the release of a 25-year-old Eagle Rare bourbon, the oldest expression from the brand to date.

Eagle Rare 25 is the first release from the distillery's Warehouse P, one of its two experimental warehouses. The purpose-built Warehouse P has been designed to trial longer maturation periods for bourbon and American whiskey to find the optimal ageing conditions. 

Harlen Wheatley, master distiller at Buffalo Trace Distillery, said: “Eagle Rare 25 defies the conventional limits of typical bourbon aging. When crafting whiskey in conditions like those we experience in Kentucky, two reactions happen over time: more liquid is lost due to evaporation – also known as angel’s share – and extraction of flavours from the barrel becomes more intense, often leading older whiskeys to taste over-oaked, astringent, and dry.

“The unique set of ageing conditions in Warehouse P has allowed us to create a 25-year-old bourbon that smooths out the extractions and highlights the desirable flavours found in ultra-aged American whiskey products.”

Wheatley continued: “We closely monitored Eagle Rare 25 throughout the ageing process and discovered that the impact over time due to controlled, extended ageing was optimally mature whiskey – by that, I mean whiskey that is uniquely smooth and complex with deep, mature flavours around every corner.”

To symbolise the fact that the whiskey was bottled at its 25th anniversary, each bottle of Eagle Rare is presented in a decanter encased by a hand-hammered sterling silver wing.

Andrew Duncan, global brand director at Buffalo Trace Distillery, said: “Around the globe, an eagle’s wings symbolise freedom and the opportunity to reach higher. It’s also a reminder for us at Buffalo Trace Distillery to never settle in our pursuit of crafting the perfect bourbon.”

Approximately 200 750ml bottles of Eagle Rare 25 will be released to select retailers, bars, and restaurants globally from November 2023 at a suggested retail price of US$10,000 per bottle.

The expression joins the Eagle Rare line-up of Eagle Rare, Double Eagle Very Rare, and Eagle Rare 17 Years Old, released each year as part of the Buffalo Trace Antique Collection.