
Ezra Brooks 99 Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Ezra Brooks · Lux Row Distillers
Ezra Brooks 99 punches well above its price point, delivering a balanced pour with enough proof to stand up in cocktails while remaining comfortable neat. It's a workhorse bourbon that rewards attention without demanding it.
Nose
Caramel corn and vanilla custard open things up, followed by a dusting of brown spices and dried cherry. There's a subtle charred oak backbone that gives the nose more depth than you'd expect at this price.
Palate
Medium-bodied with butterscotch up front, then rye spice kicks in mid-palate. Charred oak and a faint leather note add complexity, while corn sweetness keeps everything approachable.
Finish
Medium length with lingering caramel and a touch of oak char. Clean and warm without any bitterness.
- Mash Bill
- 78% Corn, 12% Rye, 10% Malted Barley
- Barrel Type
- New charred American oak
- Bottled in Bond
- No
- Single Barrel
- No
- Wheated
- No
Cocktail Suggestion
The Stave Smash — 2 oz Ezra Brooks 99 · 0.75 oz fresh lemon juice · 0.5 oz demerara syrup · 4 mint leaves · Shake hard with ice, strain over crushed ice, garnish with mint sprig.
Food Pairing
Smoked pork ribs with a brown sugar glaze
Produced at Lux Row Distillers in Bardstown, Kentucky, Ezra Brooks carries forward a label first registered in 1957, now distilled under the careful watch of master distiller John Rempe.
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