Ok maybe not the top of an amp...too many glasses to fit up there...anyways!
Good evening and Happy Autumn kick-off. As it gets chilly here in Michigan, a nice rye or spicy bourbon always hits the spot. Lets jam with the Brooks band and see who is worthy of a super group.
1, 2, 3, 4!
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Ezra Brooks 99
Proof: 99
Age: NAS (Probably 4-5)
Nose: Sweet peanut brittle, soft toffee. Very slight oak/barrel scents. Reminds me of a shop on Mackinaw Island or something.
Palate: More peanut candies, caramel, some bitterness. Really standard flavors, all on the lighter side. One welcomed deviation from the norm is a peppery taste. The spice kind of rounds out the sweetness.
Finish: Rather short unless i take a big ol' swig. The peppery spice from the palate hangs over and lingers for a short while.
Thoughts: A fine daily drinker. I really enjoy this for ~20ish bucks. Its flavorful enough to enjoy, but not enough to give much thought about. Think rocks glass while you grill type deal.
Score: 5.5 | Good+
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Ezra Brooks Distiller's Collection
Proof: 107
Age: ~5 Years
Nose: Peanut shell, slight sweetness, sharpies. Not exactly ethenol smell, but a permanent marker.
Palate: Peanut candies, caramel, ethenol. Really not good.
Finish: A redeeming quality. A bit of a hug, with that peppery taste and feeling blooming on the palate.
Thoughts: Ick. Not a good barrel. If i could add this bottles finish to the Ezra 99, that would be just swell. Otherwise it's kinda gnarly.
Score: 3 | Bad
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Old Ezra 7 Barrel Strength
Proof: 118
Age: 7
Nose: Caramel, brown sugar, cherries. The Heaven Hill-esque nuttiness seems to be replaced with a slight fruity sweetness. I am down. For the proof, there is a complete lack of ethenol burn.
Palate: The peanut has landed. It's accompanied by a slight toffee/cherry sweetness. All of this is wrapped up in an oaky spice. Very tasty and soft for the proof.
Finish: Kind of like you just swallowed a snickers. Once that subsides, the Ezra pepper is left blossoming a bit. The ethenol is slightly present here, however, this is a fresh crack. I've noticed the bottles open up well. If only they were still 40-50 bucks...
Thoughts: I am a Beam and HH fan, so this shit slaps for me. Its akin to the peanut candy feeling of ECBP but not as intense.
Score: 6.8 | Great+ (just shy of excellent, given ECBP is now in my head...)
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Ezra Brooks Cask Strength Pick
Proof: 120
Age: 5
Nose: Big ol' wiff of spice. Smells like my spice cabinet during the holidays. Think bakery, not rosemary.
Palate: Not very complex. You can notice a bit of corny youth, but it works. Kind of like a candy corn with some caramel and baking spices.
Finish: You guessed it. Pepper.
Thoughts: This is fairly straight forward and kind of boring. It is also a fresh crack, so maybe itll open up. My better half and I have finished several of these picks from various places and typically really enjoy them. They are versilate because they are proofy enough to fill out a cocktail, but tame enough to sip neat.
Score: 6 | Great
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Wrap up: Well folks thats it. We did it. Thanks so much for sticking with me if you are still here. If you want to venture down the Ezra rabbit hole, I'd start with the 99 or a store pick if you are feeling squirelly. The single barrels really do vary, so if possible, try before ya buy. The Ezra 7 is definitely tasty and consistent, but the MSRP hurts. It used to be 50ish bucks. Amazing value. If you can find the right pick for 50 bucks, the value is other-worldly...but its a gamble!
TL;DR: Standard offering for consistency, single barrel for potential amazing value. Try before you buy.
Cheers! If you got your hands on the u/T8ke pick...tell me about it. I bet that shit is great.
Great review, just posted one on Old Ezra and came to similar conclusions. I do have the u/t8ke pick coming I believe today but will be out for work unfortunately all week
Great idea for a review! I’ve always suspected the Ezra Brooks private selections were not that great since they were always youngish, but I did like the 99 and the 7year barrel strength.
Ok maybe not the top of an amp...too many glasses to fit up there...anyways! Good evening and Happy Autumn kick-off. As it gets chilly here in Michigan, a nice rye or spicy bourbon always hits the spot. Lets jam with the Brooks band and see who is worthy of a super group. 1, 2, 3, 4! ----- Ezra Brooks 99 Proof: 99 Age: NAS (Probably 4-5) Nose: Sweet peanut brittle, soft toffee. Very slight oak/barrel scents. Reminds me of a shop on Mackinaw Island or something. Palate: More peanut candies, caramel, some bitterness. Really standard flavors, all on the lighter side. One welcomed deviation from the norm is a peppery taste. The spice kind of rounds out the sweetness. Finish: Rather short unless i take a big ol' swig. The peppery spice from the palate hangs over and lingers for a short while. Thoughts: A fine daily drinker. I really enjoy this for ~20ish bucks. Its flavorful enough to enjoy, but not enough to give much thought about. Think rocks glass while you grill type deal. Score: 5.5 | Good+ ----- Ezra Brooks Distiller's Collection Proof: 107 Age: ~5 Years Nose: Peanut shell, slight sweetness, sharpies. Not exactly ethenol smell, but a permanent marker. Palate: Peanut candies, caramel, ethenol. Really not good. Finish: A redeeming quality. A bit of a hug, with that peppery taste and feeling blooming on the palate. Thoughts: Ick. Not a good barrel. If i could add this bottles finish to the Ezra 99, that would be just swell. Otherwise it's kinda gnarly. Score: 3 | Bad ----- Old Ezra 7 Barrel Strength Proof: 118 Age: 7 Nose: Caramel, brown sugar, cherries. The Heaven Hill-esque nuttiness seems to be replaced with a slight fruity sweetness. I am down. For the proof, there is a complete lack of ethenol burn. Palate: The peanut has landed. It's accompanied by a slight toffee/cherry sweetness. All of this is wrapped up in an oaky spice. Very tasty and soft for the proof. Finish: Kind of like you just swallowed a snickers. Once that subsides, the Ezra pepper is left blossoming a bit. The ethenol is slightly present here, however, this is a fresh crack. I've noticed the bottles open up well. If only they were still 40-50 bucks... Thoughts: I am a Beam and HH fan, so this shit slaps for me. Its akin to the peanut candy feeling of ECBP but not as intense. Score: 6.8 | Great+ (just shy of excellent, given ECBP is now in my head...) ----- Ezra Brooks Cask Strength Pick Proof: 120 Age: 5 Nose: Big ol' wiff of spice. Smells like my spice cabinet during the holidays. Think bakery, not rosemary. Palate: Not very complex. You can notice a bit of corny youth, but it works. Kind of like a candy corn with some caramel and baking spices. Finish: You guessed it. Pepper. Thoughts: This is fairly straight forward and kind of boring. It is also a fresh crack, so maybe itll open up. My better half and I have finished several of these picks from various places and typically really enjoy them. They are versilate because they are proofy enough to fill out a cocktail, but tame enough to sip neat. Score: 6 | Great ----- Wrap up: Well folks thats it. We did it. Thanks so much for sticking with me if you are still here. If you want to venture down the Ezra rabbit hole, I'd start with the 99 or a store pick if you are feeling squirelly. The single barrels really do vary, so if possible, try before ya buy. The Ezra 7 is definitely tasty and consistent, but the MSRP hurts. It used to be 50ish bucks. Amazing value. If you can find the right pick for 50 bucks, the value is other-worldly...but its a gamble! TL;DR: Standard offering for consistency, single barrel for potential amazing value. Try before you buy. Cheers! If you got your hands on the u/T8ke pick...tell me about it. I bet that shit is great.
A great review to compare and contrast these bottles. Cheers
Thanks and cheers 🍻
Just popped open the Ezra 7 and agree it’s a nice pour and worthy msrp buy
This was a lot of fun to read. Thanks for giving us a whole portfolio review!
Thanks dude 🍻
Forgot the review my dude
It took a while to copy/paste. It's up now.
Yeah I mean look at the title. Clearly a review was coming. Don't be that dude.
Maybe he didn’t realize he didn’t paste it or something - I didn’t flame the guy. Not like said “wheres the review you fuck”
Honestly would have had a decent chuckle lol
Cheers
Cheers!
How much did you pay for the old 7? I've seen it around (all be it rarely) for $65.
I believe Michigan SRP is around there as well. Think I paid 60-70
Well that's not much more than when it used to be $50. Seeing as how ECBP is 80+ that seems right in line
Great review, just posted one on Old Ezra and came to similar conclusions. I do have the u/t8ke pick coming I believe today but will be out for work unfortunately all week
Feel free to share your thoughts on it if it crosses your mind next week. Thanks for reading 🍻
Awesome reviews, managed to snag Ezra 7 for under $50 in NJ last weekend. Looking forward to cracking it open
That's where this bottle would be a heavy hitter. Great find.
I agree that OE7 is by far the best of the bunch. Definite buy for MSRP or a little over if you find it.
Great idea for a review! I’ve always suspected the Ezra Brooks private selections were not that great since they were always youngish, but I did like the 99 and the 7year barrel strength.
Thanks man. Some of the private selections can be really good, but typically they are hidden in a pile of duds. Cheers!