Ezra Brooks Straight Rye (90° & 99° Proof) Whiskey Reviews & Tasting Notes

 

Who was Ezra Brooks? I’ve tried in past years to determine if there was ever a person behind the name. I learned there was no such person, at least not associated with the brand. However, it is catchy and easy to remember, and any marketer will tell you that it’s worth its weight in gold.

 

In 1957, the brand was created by Frank Silverman and distilled at Hoffman Distilling Company. It died off in 1977, but as what seems to happen more often than not, the David Sherman Company purchased the rights to the brand and resurrected it in 1993. In 2006, the company was renamed Luxco. In 2015, Luxco built its own distillery in Bardstown called Lux Row Distillers and then merged with MGP in 2021 to become its customer-facing operation (with MGP’s Indiana distillery renamed Ross & Squibb).

 

Last month, Lux Row Distillers launched Ezra Brooks 99 Straight Rye Whiskey. This replaces the newly-discontinued Ezra Brooks Straight Rye Whiskey, bottled at 90° (the “99” refers to its current 99°). Both are barely-legal Ryes, meaning they have 51% rye content; the remainder is 45% corn and 4% malted barley. The 24-month age statement fits the straight designation.

 

Ezra Brooks whiskies are known for being charcoal-filtered. The 90° sold for about $16.99, whereas the new 99° has a suggested price of $24.99.

 

As luck would have it, I happen to have a 50ml of the 90° version in my whiskey library that I would review later. Lux Row Distillers provided me with a sample of the 99° in exchange for my no-strings-attached, honest review. Rather than doing individual reviews, it seems natural that a head-to-head competition is in order!

 

Let’s #DrinkCurious and determine how each performs in the ring. For absolute fairness, I’ve poured each into a Glencairn glass and will sip them neat.

 

Up first is the 90° Straight Rye, if for no other reason than because of its lower ABV content.

Appearance: This whiskey was a brilliant orange amber. A thin rim formed straight, elongated legs that raced back to the pool of liquid sunshine.   

 

Nose: Corn was the most prevalent ingredient I smelled, which is unsurprising considering the recipe. The rye spice was mild and almost lost in vanilla and toasted oak notes. When I drew the air through my lips, cinnamon powder dusted my palate.

 

Palate: The medium-bodied, oily texture was easy to swallow. It had no bite, and the front of my palate found corn, vanilla, and Granny Smith apples. Leather and tobacco were at the middle, while mint, cinnamon spice, and charred oak comprised the back.   

 

Finish: Medium in duration and spicy, the finish featured black pepper, cinnamon spice, mint, and toasted oak and was slightly tamed by a healthy dose of Granny Smith apples.

 

Bottle, Bar, or Bust: Ezra Brooks 90° Straight Rye is among those #RespectTheBottomShelf opportunities. It goes down easy. It has enough heft to be a good cocktail base. It is certainly inexpensive enough for nearly anyone. That has all of the makings of a Bottle rating.

 

And now, the new-and-improved(?) 99° Straight Rye

Appearance: In my Glencairn glass, the liquid looked bright and brassy. A medium-weighted rim formed and released thick, watery tears that dropped faster than my eyes could follow.

 

Nose: The rye content was far easier to discern at this proof. It was floral and minty. Corn took an “also starring” role. I also smelled candied orange slices and a pinch of cinnamon. Drawing the air into my mouth brought a taste of vanilla and corn.

 

Palate: Interestingly, the nine proof points added some creaminess to its texture. There was still no “burn” per se. The front of my palate discovered corn, vanilla, and milk chocolate. Midway through, I tasted leather, shredded tobacco, and orange citrus. The back offered Granny Smith apples, toasted oak, and cinnamon Red Hots.

 

Finish: Late to the game were spice notes, in particular, a more muted black pepper, more pronounced oak tannins, and cinnamon spice. That Granny Smith apple quality came in and left so quickly that I might have otherwise missed it. A brief moment of clove appeared, too. The whole thing lasted a few minutes.

 

Bottle, Bar, or Bust: There was nothing not to like about this easily affordable, higher-proofed Rye whiskey. The creamy mouthfeel was tantalizing and encouraged me to return to it quickly. Sure, it is only two years old, but you’d be clueless unless you saw the bottle. At $24.99, I still consider this a #RespectTheBottomShelf winner and am happy to have it in my whiskey library. It earns every bit of my Bottle rating.

 

Final Thoughts: Strangely, Ezra Brooks 99 went down even more effortlessly than its lower-proofed sibling. Additional proof points should have done the opposite. While I enjoyed the 90° version, the 99° was superior in nearly every way. Is it worth the premium? I think so. Cheers!

 

 

My Simple, Easy-to-Understand Rating System

• Bottle = Buy It
• Bar = Try It
• Bust = Leave It

 

Whiskeyfellow encourages you to enjoy your whiskey as you see fit but begs you do so responsibly.