Company: Ezra Brooks
Distillery: Lux Row Distillers
Region: Bardstown, Kentucky
Aging: 2 Years
ABV: 49.5% ABV
Proof: 99 Proof
Mash Bill: 51% Rye, 45% Corn, 4% Malted Barley
Charcoal Mellowed: Yes
Non-Chill Filtered: No
MSRP Price: $25
Ezra Brooks 99 Proof – Straight Rye Whiskey Tasting Notes
Appearance: Golden Honey
Nose: Honey, buttery brown sugar, toasted oak, vanilla, rye grain, spice, light fruits, charcoal
Palate: Rye spice, cereal grain, charcoal from the mellowing, citrus, light fruits, pepper
Finish: Medium finish with a bit of heat – leaves you with a strong rye spice, grain, and fruit flavor with heavy pepper and spice on the tail end
Is Ezra Brooks 99 Proof an Approachable Whiskey?
Ezra Brooks 99 Proof has a bit of heat on it and an interesting charcoal flavor from the charcoal mellowing process.
This isn’t a whiskey for beginners since the heat, spice, and charcoal flavors may be a bit jarring.
Is Ezra Brooks 99 Proof Complex?
Ezra Brooks 99 Proof isn’t particularly complex, but it does have a few layers of flavor.
The star of the show is the rye spice that hits your taste buds right away.
You’ll then get some honey sweetness which is quite nice and if you don’t really swish the whiskey around your mouth, it will be a fairly smooth pour.
If you do swish it around your mouth and really let the flavors kick in, you’ll get a strong spice and pepper heat paired with the charcoal notes from the charcoal mellowing process.
What are Ezra Brooks 99 Proof’s strongest attributes/flavors?
Ezra Brooks 99 Proof’s strongest attribute is its big and bold rye spice and pepper flavor.
This would be a great whiskey to use in cocktails to add a nice kick to your drinks.
Is Ezra Brooks 99 Proof a go-to whiskey?
Ezra Brooks 99 Proof isn’t a go-to whiskey that I would drink neat, but it is a whiskey that I would use in my cocktails.
I’m always looking for a budget rye whiskey that will add a nice flavor twist to an old-fashioned or a solid Manhattan.
Is Ezra Brooks 99 Proof priced accurately to its quality?
Ezra Brooks 99 Proof is priced right around where I would expect for this bottle.
It’s not going to blow you away if you’re sipping on this one straight, but it delivers on its price tag for how cheap the bottle is.
Conclusion for Ezra Brooks 99 Proof – Straight Rye Whiskey
Ezra Brooks 99 Proof is a decent pour for $25.
I’m not particularly a fan of the charcoal mellowing and I think that is what deters me from rating this bottle a little higher.
I enjoy the rye spice and honey sweetness paired with light fruits, but there’s just a twist on this one that holds it back from being a potential daily sipper.
Let Us Know What You Think
I hope you enjoyed this tasting experience with me.
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Thanks for reading and cheers!
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