I’d like to thank ByrnePR and Lux Row for providing the review sample of Ezra Brooks 99 with no strings attached.
Eighteen hundred, sixty-nine days ago, I published If You've Had... Ezra Brooks Edition. A non-judgemental article about the then-current Ezra Brooks line-up and how they compared to one another flavor-wise. It looked at Ezra Brooks, Old Ezra 101 proof (7-year-old), and Ezra B (a 12-year old single barrel version). In the intervening years the line-up, heck the company, has undergone a complete revamp. Ezra B and Old Ezra 101 proof were discontinued. Luxco built a distillery that they named Lux Row. They reintroduced Old Ezra, still seven years old, but now barrel proof. And this week it was announced that Luxco was being purchased by MGP.
That’s a busy few years for Ezra Brooks. And to top all of that off, there is also a newcomer to the Ezra Brooks line-up. Ezra Brooks 99 is a 99 proof version of the original Ezra Brooks. Here’s what the company had to say about the new addition.
“With Ezra Brooks 99 our goal was to create a higher-proof bourbon without sacrificing the rich notes Ezra Brooks is known for,” said John Rempe, master distiller at Lux Row Distillers. “And we achieved that with 99. The result is a smooth, drinkable bourbon with hints of caramel, vanilla, chocolate and spice. We’re thrilled to introduce Ezra Brooks 99 to bourbon lovers everywhere.”
This is rolling out nationwide during January 2021, but they were kind enough to send over a sample so I could take an early look.
Ezra Brooks 99
Purchase Info: This was graciously provided by the distillery for review purposes. The suggested retail price is $24.99 for a 750 mL bottle.
Price per Drink (50 mL): $1.67
Details: 49.5% ABV
Nose: Mint, cherry, nutmeg, and caramel.
Mouth: Caramel, cherry, milk chocolate, and cinnamon.
Finish: Medium length and sweet. Lingering caramel, mint, and cinnamon.
Thoughts: This is a very nice step up from the Ezra Brooks 90 Proof. It's a lot sweeter, with strong caramel and milk chocolate notes. It's got a good mouthfeel. I'm on board. This is a good sub $30 bourbon. It will probably crack the “daily drinker” rotation on occasion when it shows up at local liquor stores.
Turning away from the new kid on the block, let’s take a look at that OG fixture of the Ezra Brooks line up. It’s named, fittingly, Ezra Brooks. It has been two thousand, four hundred, ninety-nine days since I first published tasting notes of Ezra Brooks Bourbon. It was during the very first Bottom-Shelf Bracket. Spoiler: it made it out of the first round but not out of the second. Back in 2014, I had this to say about it:
This one is a classic value play. It’s good considering it’s well under $20 per liter, if it were $30 I don’t know that I would buy it.
So, what do I think about it 6+ years later?
Ezra Brooks Bourbon: Revisited
Purchase Info: $13.99 for a one-liter bottle at Viking Liquor Barrel, Prior Lake, MN
Price per Drink (50 mL): $0.70
Details: 45% ABV
Nose: Mint, bubble gum, and a hint of nutmeg
Mouth: Caramel, almond, baking spice, and a hint of mint.
Finish: Medium length and warm. Dried grains and cinnamon red hots that fades into sweet caramel.
Thoughts: Picked this up for $14 for a liter. Very pleased with the purchase. Decent spice, nice mouthfeel, and good flavor. A very nice "value" bourbon that compares well against others in its price point. I should probably grab this more often than I do. Though now, I’ll probably grab the 99 proof instead most of the time.
Did you enjoy this post? If so, maybe you’d like to buy me a cup of coffee in return. Go to ko-fi.com/bourbonguy to support. And thank you, BourbonGuy.com is solely supported via your generosity.
Of course, if you want to support BourbonGuy.com and get a little something back in return, you can always head over to BourbonGuyGifts.com and purchase some merch. I’ve made tasting journals, stickers, pins, and more.