Ezra Brooks 90 Proof Kentucky Straight Bourbon

Lux Row is quietly rising the ranks of my favorite names in whiskey. Today I've got what I consider their answer to Heaven Hill's Evan Williams (it might even be what they sourced for this.) At $20, this is the cheapest whiskey, or product for that matter, that I've reviewed on Distiller. Expectations aren't terribly high, but I've got an open mind. Nose: Dusty corn. Caramel, vanilla, and butterscotch. Cocoa. Orange peel and tobacco. Black pepper, rye spice, nutmeg, and clove. Oak and some green, grassy notes. A little simple but surprisingly good. Palate: Caramel and coca. Vanilla. Sawdust. Walnut, almond, cashew. Orange and orange peel. A soapy note I get in a lot of younger whiskies. Bitter oak. Even the cocoa tastes more bitter than it felt on the nose. Finish: More bitter cocoa, as well as vanilla and caramel. Black pepper, cinnamon, clove, nutmeg, allspice, and oak. Plenty of ethanol, indicative of a young spirit. Medium length, and leaning toward short. Surprisingly good whiskey despite its obvious youth. I was critical in my review, but I must acknowledge that this is a solid bourbon. And it's made even better when you consider the cost. Considering it's the cheapest spirit I've reviewed to date, I'm pretty satisfied with what I got. I usually pay an extra $10-15 to get his quality of whiskey. And when you do the math, that's almost enough to get another bottle of this. Value is a booster here. That's helped me reach my conclusion: 3/5.

$15 for 90 proof KY straight bourbon? Sore dick deal all day: ya can’t beat it! Yes, this is bottom shelf. Yes, there’s better bourbons, and we all know how allocated and hyped many of them are. But the standard EB is proof that if you’re looking for high value at low cost, bourbon is where you want to be if budget is a factor. And no, I’m not talking as a cheap mixer—although you won’t feel bad using it that way. Im sipping it neat in a glencairn and it’s perfectly serviceable if not super complex. Brown sugar, vanilla, some light baking spice is whats up.

Ezra Brooks Bourbon. Distilled, aged, and bottled in Kentucky. ABV: 45%. No age but has to be minimum 4 by law since it is a straight bourbon. Aroma: a lot of charred barrel notes with some sweetness. Taste: charred oak up front, a little spicy, and minor sweetness/fruitiness. Got a little kick but its a fine sipper. Not bad overall. Cost: 14-15+tax for a 750 ml bottle. Grade: C+

Blind taste test - bought 50 mL bottles at Total Wine in Grand Rapids with Kyle. Smells almost exactly like blade and bow. Caramel and peppery with dried fruits. Upon reveal was very pleasantly surprised! Sweet fruits, dark chocolate and vanilla come through. Fantastic low-cost surrogate for Blade and Bow. Just a small gap in flavor (tastes goooood, gap, and then nice finish)

Nose: vanilla,sweet corn and cracker jacks. Taste: sweet vanilla, light caramel and a hint of toffee. Finish: combination of sweet vanilla and caramel upfront, orange zest and allspice on the back end that lingers for a bit. This drinks very sweet and is rather smooth given the price and the fact that it’s 90 proof. This is balanced for a bottom shelf Bourbon.

a little oak with some hints of toasted marshmallow on the nose; sweet and pleasant on the palate with no burn; medicinal (yet not harsh) vanilla that is medium but does not disappear. For $12.99 it can’t be beat! It’s a pleasant sipper but I wouldn’t use it as an old-fashion or manhattan mixer…Drink neatfor best experience i.m.h.o.