Meeting #23 - Jan '26 - Eagle Rare, Woodford DO, & Woodford Master's Collection

High Flight’s 22 members and guests brought in 2026 with 3 well-known and always good Kentucky Bourbons - what better way to start the New Year than sipping good bourbon with great friends!

#1)  Eagle Rare 10-Year: 

Buffalo Trace Mashbill #1, highly classified but believed to be low rye of 10% or less. 

101 proof / 8 years / $45 MSRP

HF Score: 3.31

NOSE: candy corn, caramel, some fruit especially orange peel, brown sugar.

TASTE: caramel, slight cinnamon, toasted oak really stands out along with some nuttiness.

FINISH: nutty, lingering notes of caramel and toffee, some hints of bitterness at the very end.

Eagle Rare 10-Year is a superb bourbon, recognized worldwide but unfortunately hard to get in our PA Fine Wine and Good Spirits stores, scarfed up quickly when a few are delivered.  Interestingly, it used to be labeled as a single barrel, but after going to an automated bottling production line, technically, a bottle could have a mixture of different barrels as some bourbon is left in the system when the barrels are emptied and changed.  MSRP $40 but most stores jack up the price, some to ridiculous levels! PA sells at MSRP, but you got to find it first!

#2) Woodford Double Oaked  

Brown-Foreman, Mashbill 72% corn, 18% Rye, 10% malted barley.

90.4 proof / 5-7 years in first barrel & 6-12 months in second barrel / $65

HF Score: 3.42

NOSE: vanilla sheet cake, brown sugar, molasses

TASTE: caramel, sweet oak, toasted marshmallow, dark fruit, maple.

FINISH: oak, leather, rye spice, very nice contrasts.

Woodford Double Oaked is produced by re-barreling Woodford Reserve Distiller’s Select in a second virgin charred oak barrel for a little under a year. The second barrel is deeply toasted before being lightly charred, total aging is believed to be 5-7 years or more.  We got a little sneaky with this pick as we’ve never before “recycled” a previous pick.  We tasted Woodford Double Oaked at our founding meeting nearly two years ago and it’s still in #3 on our TOP 10 list.  We were a little harder this time around on the latest version but it’s still a wonderful daily sipper, readily available at a decent price! This is a bottle I always go back to in my collection!  MSRP: $65, can be had for less on occasion.

#3) Woodford Reserve Masters Sweet Oak Bourbon

Brown-Foreman Distillery released in September 2025

Mashbill 72 % corn, 18% Rye, 10% malted barley

110.4 proof / 4+ years / $170

HF score: 3.45

NOSE: subtle notes of black tea, orange, light caramel, oak.

TASTE: flavor bomb of cinnamon and musty rye spice.  Hints of spiced cherry and raisins.

FINISH: sweet and woody, complex with hints of light chocolate.  Finish is long and lasts!  

A real treat and an incredibly pleasing sip, Woodford Reserve Masters Sweet Oak Bourbon is barreled for its entire aging process utilizing Chinkapin Oak, which is known for its sweet and edible acorns.  Truly highlighting the differences among oak varieties, aged at least 4 years.  MSRP: $170, and it’s only a 700 ML bottle.  A bit pricey, but this special release is truly a unique and tasty bourbon!