Ezra Brooks 99 Proof Kentucky Straight Bourbon
Ezra Brooks is a bourbon I’ve picked up several times. It is usually my backup choice when the liquor store is out of my favorite daily drinker. The standard version of Ezra Brooks is 90 proof and I always thought it was missing a bit of flavor. I was excited when I noticed this bottle of Ezra Brooks 99 Bourbon. I hoped the extra kick would enhance the flavor profile.
Ezra Brooks 99 Bourbon is a relatively new offering from Ezra Brooks. The inaugural launch of the 99 proof bottle was announced in early 2021. Ezra Brooks parent company, Lux Row, opted to roll out the 99 proof after they discontinued Old Ezra 7 Year in favor of an Old Ezra Barrel Proof. The Ezra Brooks 99 Bourbon splits the difference between the higher barrel-proof offering and their standard 90-proof Kentucky Straight Bourbon expression.
Lux Row
Lux Row Distillers, owned by parent company Luxco has been a large player in the whiskey market for some time. They have a number of recognizable brands including Rebel Bourbon and Blood Oath. Despite being on the market for years, Luxco has relied on other distillers as the source for their whiskey. Only recently has Lux Row Distillers opened their doors to start producing their own whiskey.
In 2018, Luxco opened its Lux Row Distillery along the Kentucky Bourbon Trail. Their distillery, located in Bardstown, hopes to produce fifty-thousand barrels of whiskey per year. Despite Lux Row Distillers being open for 4 years, it still appears that many of the Luxco spirits continue to be sourced.
In 2021, it was announced that MGP was acquiring Luxco. MGP is one of the largest whiskey producers in the country, specializing in rye whiskey. MGP also sells about 1 million cases of bourbon per year. With the acquisition of Lux Row, one would expect MGP to continue to increase its bourbon sales worldwide.
Ezra Brooks 99 Source
The source of Ezra Brooks 99 is technically undisclosed. However, considering the presence of Lux Row in Bardstown, KY and the 78% corn, 10% rye, and 12% malted barley mash bill, many have speculated that Ezra is distilled by Heaven Hill. If so, it would make sense about why I tend to grab the core Ezra Brooks when the store is out of Evan Williams Bottled-in-Bond. While not an exact copy, Ezra Brooks tends to share some flavor characteristics with Evan Williams.
About Ezra Brooks 99
Ezra Brooks 99 Bourbon is a NAS whiskey bottled at 99 proof. The mash bill is 78% corn, 10% rye, and 12% malted barley. As mentioned before, the mash bill is the standard Heaven Hill recipe. Ezra Brooks 99 is charcoal filtered before bottling, which appears to be similar to the recently discontinued Evan Williams Green Label.
Ezra Brooks 99 is a sour mash product. That means some of the old mash was used to kick start the fermentation of the new mash. Reusing sour mash is a common practice used by many distilleries. Generally, if sour mash is used in the distilling process, it will be indicated on the label.
According to the Lux Row website, you’ll notice hints of vanilla, caramel, chocolate, and spice. The finish is listed as “smooth and drinkable.”
Tasting Notes
Ezra Brooks 99 Bourbon has a very faint aroma. We happened to be making truffle fries while tasting and I had to go outside to reset my sense of smell. I faintly picked a little hint of vanilla sweetness, but there wasn’t much else on the nose.
Alie noticed caramel on the nose. She was less affected by the smell of truffle oil. She noticed the caramel flavor of the Ezra 99 as well. She commented that the whiskey was dry. The intensity she noticed was mild and hit her on the top of the tongue.
I definitely noticed the caramel flavor in the taste, as well as hints of vanilla. The intensity was a mild to medium burn that lingered on my tongue for 20-30 seconds before it slowly fades away. Ezra Brooks 99 Bourbon is a straightforward, but pleasant, sipping whiskey. It would also make an excellent and affordable cocktail mixer.
Our Ratings
Drinkability: 4
Intensity: 3
Personal Preference: 3.5
Beginner Friendly: 4
Availability: 4
Overall: 3.9
Final Thoughts
Ezra Brooks 99 Bourbon is a step up from the 90-proof straight bourbon I usually find on the shelves. There is a lot more flavor in the 99, and it finishes with a bit more intensity without being overpowering. We sat on the patio, grilling, and finished our pours last night, despite the temps being in the upper 80s.
Ezra 99 was the perfect whiskey to have in hand, despite the summer heat. Some whiskeys are too hot, too complex, or the flavor just screams cold winter night’s pour. The Ezra Brooks 99 Bourbon was a lovely higher-proof whiskey that was still light enough to make it enjoyable to sip in the heat.
We’re still in high summer in Colorado. It will be a few weeks before the heat finally starts to break and the temperatures start to cool down noticeably, at least at night. That means summertime cocktails are still on our menu. Ezra Brooks 99 Bourbon was great in a number of cocktails we tried. My personal favorite was the Bourbon Sweet Tea. You can find the recipe here.
Ezra Brooks 99 Bourbon is a solid pick all around. It’s great in cocktails, it is easy to drink under differing weather conditions, and it would be a good daily drinker if you just need a break from your normal daily pour. It’s nice enough to share with friends, and easy drinking enough to share with new enthusiasts. If they sold this in a 1.75l near me, I’d consider making it my daily drinker, at least for a few months.
Ezra Brooks 99 Bourbon retails for around $25 near us. Depending on your geographical location, you might be able to find it for under $20 near you. For a budget pick, it is pretty tough to beat.
Happy Exploring!
