BONHAMS PARTNERS WITH BUFFALO TRACE TO LAUNCH EAGLE RARE 30-YEAR-OLD, THE OLDEST AGE STATED WHISKEY FROM THE AMERICAN DISTILLERY – Auction Whiskey News
BONHAMS PARTNERS WITH BUFFALO TRACE TO LAUNCH EAGLE RARE 30-YEAR-OLD, THE OLDEST AGE STATED WHISKEY FROM THE AMERICAN DISTILLERY
London – In celebration of Eagle Rare 30, the oldest age-stated bourbon to date from Buffalo Trace Distillery, Bonhams will present a curated online auction of the World’s Most-Award Winning Distillery’s rarest and highly-coveted American whiskeys.
Running from 24 April to 8 May 2026 on bonhams.com, the sale will feature the first and second bottles ever produced of Eagle Rare 30 alongside a range of individual lots and curated collections from across the Eagle Rare portfolio – including 10, 12, and 17 Years Old – as well as exclusive experiences and a luxury overnight stay at the historic distillery in Kentucky.
The auction presents a rare moment for collectors, as ultra-aged bourbon is exceptionally uncommon. In Kentucky’s dramatic climate, very few barrels endure to reach 30 years of maturation, making Eagle Rare 30 a significant milestone for both Buffalo Trace Distillery and American whiskey.
Amayès Aouli, Global Head of Bonhams Wine & Spirits, commented: “The global teams of Bonhams are honoured to partner with such an iconic name as Buffalo Trace on this exclusive auction launching Eagle Rare 30. Distilled in the experimental Warehouse P where time and environment are pushed to their limits, this remarkable whiskey represents the pinnacle of the Eagle Rare collection. It also highlights the strength of our global platform, with events across three continents, in our Bonhams salerooms, culminating in our online auction.”
Eagle Rare 30-year-old
Driven by the belief that the world’s best whiskey has yet to be created, Buffalo Trace Distillery has spent decades pushing the limits of American aging. Eagle Rare 30 builds on Eagle Rare 25, both drawn from Warehouse P, one of the distillery’s two experimental warehouses designed to slow and control maturation.
Created to test whether extended aging could elevate bourbon in the same way it does in more temperate climates such as Japan, Scotland and Ireland, Warehouse P produces whiskey that matures more evenly over time, resulting in Eagle Rare 25 and 30, two expressions that redefine the category’s potential.
“Eagle Rare 25 and 30 aren’t just about time, they’re about what time reveals,” said Master Distiller Harlen Wheatley. Kentucky’s climate makes long aging difficult, but Warehouse P allows those effects to be managed while preserving nuance.
He added that maturity depends on more than years alone, with oak, char and environment shaping the whiskey over decades. Careful monitoring has unlocked exceptional smoothness and complexity, creating something truly distinctive.
Eagle Rare 30-Year-Old
Distilled at Buffalo Trace Distillery since 1989, Eagle Rare has become one of Buffalo Trace’s most celebrated and sought-after collections, spanning from the classic 10-Year-Old to the rare 25 and newly introduced 30-Year-Old, offering age statements more commonly associated with Scotch whisky than bourbon. It has earned international recognition including a record-holding five Double Gold medals at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition as well as Gold and category honours from the International Wine & Spirit Competition and the International Spirits Challenge, reinforcing its standing among the world’s leading whiskeys.
Comprising 15 lots in total, highlights of the auction include:
- Lot #1: The first bottle ever produced of Eagle Rare 30-Year-Old, in addition to a private single barrel tasting experience featuring up to five Buffalo Trace bourbons hosted at either Buffalo Trace Distillery in Frankfort, KY or Buffalo Trace Distillery London, its tasting room located in Covent Garden. Estimate: £7,500 – £10,000 ($10,000 – $13,000).
- Lot #2: One bottle each from the entire Eagle Rare collection: 10, 12, 17-Year-Old (3 x 700ml bottles) as Double Eagle Very Rare, 25 and the second bottle produced of 30-Year-Old (3 x 750ml presented in their signature display cases). Also includes one-night luxury accommodations at Stagg Lodge, the Distillery’s VIP, invite-only lodge overlooking the historic campus. Estimate: £20,000-30,000 ($27,000 – $40,000)
- Lot #3: One 700ml bottle each of Eagle Rare 17-, 12- and 10-Year-Old as well as an Eagle Rare 10 single barrel pick experience hosted at either Buffalo Trace Distillery in Frankfort, KY or Buffalo Trace Distillery London. Estimate: £7,000-10,000 ($9,000 – $13,500).
- Lot #4 – #5: One 700ml bottle of Eagle Rare 17-Year-Old from the 2025 Buffalo Trace Antique Collection. Estimate: £800-1,300 ($1,000 – $1,700).
- Lots #6 – #10: Each offering a six-bottle case of Eagle Rare 12-Year-Old (6 x 700ml, bottles). Estimate: £700-1,000 ($950 – $1,300).
- Lots #11- #15: Each offering a six-bottle case of Eagle Rare 10-Year-Old (6 x 700ml, bottles). Estimate: £200-400 ($260 – $530).
Top: Eagle Rare 12 Years Old. Bottom: Eagle Rare 20 Years Old.
Sale: Eagle Rare 30-Yea-Old Bourbon Takes Flight: The Ultimate Eagle Rare Release Location: bonhams.com Date: 24 April – 8 May 2026
About The Bonhams Network
Bonhams is a global network of auction houses, with the largest number of international salerooms, offering the widest range of collecting categories and selling at all price points. Bonhams is recognised for its bespoke service, and a dedication to local market relationships, enhanced by a global platform. With 14 salerooms, Bonhams presents over 1,000 sales annually, across more than 60 specialist categories, including fine art, collectables, luxury, wine & spirits, and collector cars.
Founded in 1793, Bonhams has representatives in more than 30 countries and operates flagship salerooms in London, New York, Paris, Los Angeles, and Hong Kong. In 2022, Bonhams added four international auction houses to its network: Bukowskis, Stockholm; Bruun Rasmussen, Copenhagen; Cornette de Saint Cyr, Paris and Brussels; and Skinner, Massachusetts. The success of Bonhams’ global strategy is a result of recognising the shift in growing intercontinental buying and increased digital engagement.
More information and highlights can be found HERE
For a full list of forthcoming auctions, plus details of Bonhams specialist departments, please visit bonhams.com
