Eagle Rare 10yr changes

[jmj_203]

So I remember hearing somewhere recently Harlan or someone at BT being interviewed confirmed ER wasn't going anywhere or Losing anything. My local has been out for a few weeks, I stopped today because they got another supply in. They must be recent, but I noticed the neck label was changed removing the 10yr statement. The back label still says ten years old, this just has me saying to myself are they going to possibly try to drop the age statement sometime soon? I can't see them being so bold with a big brand of theirs. Anyways let me find some pics. Old neck

new neck

IKnow its so minor, and possibly just decided they didn't need the age in multiple places. In this day and age however, you never know if they aren't taking an intermediate step to losing that last number on the label. I usually have like 5 bottles anyways on hand but would hate to see a fav jump the shark as they say.

Edited May 22, 2014 by jmj_203

[smknjoe]

They made that change almost a year ago. There is another thread about it somewhere around here. So far, they have left the age statement on the bottles.

[mbroo5880i]

I hope they don't change it. I know that many prefer BT over ER10 based on price. However, I have recently (last year) bought a few store select ER10s that were great!

[jmj_203]

I only asked because for the last few months in general a lot of people seem to prefer BT over ER, and I've seen a lot of dislike or either love or hate for ER. Well the stores here all had the old ER with the neck label 10. I can't get enough its so delicious. I'm hoping when I crack this newer bottle I don't get an aha moment regarding why its not so esteemed now. Its much lighter now but that means zero, the taste is in the pudding and I haven't cracked the new one yet. I will this week, I was just replacing a fallen soldier. I'll try this one before I open my 4 remaining old bottles. Will be a great comparison.

[tylermke]

At least they kept the age statement somewhere and didn't replace it with a prominently displayed number 10...

[HighInTheMtns]

At least they kept the age statement somewhere and didn't replace it with a prominently displayed number 10...

I'm not with you on this one, Tyler.

This is the shadiest shit that Sazerac has pulled yet. It's been happening for a long time. The age statement and single barrel statement have migrated from the glass, to the neck label, now to the back.

Eagle Rare started as a brand to compete with Wild Turkey. Well... They're competing all right. This is a race to the bottom. Who can devalue their labels the most? Who can do it in the sleaziest way?

I hate Campari. But you know what? Sazerac wins. Sell all the distilleries to the Japanese, because they're the only ones who give even half a shit.

[brettckeen]

10yr did migrate to the back but single barrel is gone. not that that's bad though as the last single barrels I have had were charry and the new 10yr not indicating single barrel is pretty bright and alive. OC 10 with a higher proof!

[tylermke]

I'm not with you on this one, Tyler.

This is the shadiest shit that Sazerac has pulled yet. It's been happening for a long time. The age statement and single barrel statement have migrated from the glass, to the neck label, now to the back.

Eagle Rare started as a brand to compete with Wild Turkey. Well... They're competing all right. This is a race to the bottom. Who can devalue their labels the most? Who can do it in the sleaziest way?

I hate Campari. But you know what? Sazerac wins. Sell all the distilleries to the Japanese, because they're the only ones who give even half a shit.

[jmj_203]

Thats why I brought it up. I wasn't aware this had happened almost a year ago. Are you saying you have bottles available by you that also removed the "Single Barrel" statement? If so then we're pretty much guaranteed it will become an Eagle Rare Old No. 10 in the next few years. Seriously if they remove the age statement, I'll be done with ER and BT. Theres still a few others I can buy and enjoy just as much, though that list is shrinking.

[Dolph Lundgren]

Bourbon can be just as good at five years as it can at ten years. Distilleries/distillers have confirmed this. Just ask anyone of them and they'll tell you some of the best bourbons they've had are in the three to five years old range. If distilleries feel that they can put out a product at five years old that they believe is just as good at ten years old, then it has to be true.

Ok, seriously, the ER changes are crap and I feel that BT done messed up. One of the most subtle (but worst) changes is the revamp of the back label interior. They made it really dark and it covers most of the back half of the bottle, casting a dark shadow over the liquid in an attempt to make it more appealing. I feel like that is an allegory for the BT distillery these days...painting over rust and whatnot.

And before I get called out as an age-acolyte, I know age is just one factor, but it does significantly matter. The best aged bourbons I've had are in the 8-15 year range. Another argument for another thread...

[Josh]

This came up in a different thread but I'm glad it has its own now. Yeah, this is rotten. I wonder about the neck bands too. Is it already under 10 y/o and they are they just using them up until the new non-NAS neck bands come in? Make me wonder.

[squire]

Age is but one factor and not the biggest one, yet the subtle removal of an age statement from the front label is a sin of omission announcing things to come.

[amg]

The official statement on the VOB was that they were still putting 6-year old juice in after the label change, but may start using younger whiskey soon. Maybe this is the same kind of situation.

[T Comp]

Well this is interesting. Almost a year ago, Molten Lava, posted a pic and stated the single barrel designation was gone. Others then posted it was on the neck but no pics of this. jmj-203's pic also now shows no SB designation unless it's on the back of the neck label. So it was dropped as a single barrel almost a year ago? Of course the Sazerac website still has it as a single barrel.

http://www.straightbourbon.com/forums/showthread.php?20212-Eagle-Rare

[squire]

It is what we say it is so stop with the questions already.

[amg]

I've seen it on the shelves recently with both single barrel and 10 year on one or the other label. I can't remember what was where, but I don't see any reason to jump to conclusions unless the statements disappear from the packaging completely.

[Josh]

This is the last one I bought. Purchased last week.

I posted these in another thread but they're more appropriate here.

It says single barrel on the neck by it was a retailer selection so it was a SB anyway.

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk

[T Comp]

Thanks for the pic Josh. Since Molten Lava and jmj_203's pics show letters next to the 10 on the neck label it appears any talk on it no longer being a single barrel is also incorrect. So for all the SB aspersion casters waiting to pounce...still 10 year and still a single barrel.

Of course I don't even much drink it so why do I care??? :grin:.

[HighInTheMtns]

If jmj's second pic is the latest ER label, and its neck label no longer reads 10 year or single barrel, as it appears not to, it's the fourth iteration starting with this one.

This one showed up next but only very briefly.

Then this one, with the classy Stagg Jr style color-darkening back label.

And now the age statement and single barrel statement have moved to the back label. This makes the VOB and Old Charter moves look small-time. Sazerac is so sleazy.

[dcbt]

JMJ's second pic, with the stars on the neck, is what I am seeing in the wild all over now. I've only seen that in the past week or two; prior to that it still had the 10 years and SB.

[HighInTheMtns]

JMJ's second pic, with the stars on the neck, is what I am seeing in the wild all over now. I've only seen that in the past week or two; prior to that it still had the 10 years and SB.

Does it say single barrel on it anywhere?

[dcbt]

Does it say single barrel on it anywhere?

I'll double check at lunch if someone else doesn't post with a definitive answer before that; going to hit up a store down the road.

[HighInTheMtns]

I'll double check at lunch if someone else doesn't post with a definitive answer before that; going to hit up a store down the road.

I wouldn't mind a pic of the back label if you can swing it.

[dcbt]

I wouldn't mind a pic of the back label if you can swing it.

will do..........................

[dcbt]

will do..........................

Attached, don't see any mention of single barrel...

Edit to add that the distributor rep came over to me while I was checking out the bottle and said, "Have you had that, it's a good whiskey."

I said, "Yes, many times, I do like it, but I noticed they changed the label."

He agreed and reassured me it was still 10 years old. I said, "Yea, I see that on the label still but I don't see 'single barrel' anywhere anymore."

Crickets...

Edited May 22, 2014 by dcbt