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Ezra Brooks Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

Let me blow your mind!

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MReview by @Maestroso

22nd Aug 2011

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Ezra Brooks Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
  • Nose
    19
  • Taste
    18
  • Finish
    21
  • Balance
    22
  • Overall
    80

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Distribution of ratings for this: user

  • Brand: Ezra Brooks
  • ABV: 45%

I have friends (a particular couple) who spend a great deal on wines-- and nothing thrills me more than sharing a bottle with them that they love and rant and rave about only to reveal that I bought it for between $5 and $9. You have to mix it up or they suspect, so now and then you have to bring an overpriced bottle to knock them off their game.

Well, I also love finding bourbons that taste great and don't cost a lot as well--and here is their king. . . Ezra Brooks. I have spent whole evenings watching friends dropping huge sums of money on Woodford, and saying to my self inside "What am I missing here? Woodford is SOoooo over-rated. Anyway. . .

You can't even find this bourbon on most lists and I don't know why-- It is made in Louisville, Kentucky where many of the other great liquids are produced, it has a really drinkable flavor, and it costs very, very, little.

The label is a simple black background with gold details and a small oval in the center depicting an old-timey distillery barn. The bottle is similar to Jack Daniels.

Now, I am not saying this is on the level with the really good expensive bourbons-- but I am saying it is as good as some of the highly-touted brands that cost quite a bit and I find really unsatisfying like Berheim, Bulleit Bourbon, or ANYTHING produced by Four Roses. I understand the fact that t is charcoal filtered makes it a closer cousin to Tennessee Whisky, but when you try it, you will see what I mean----especially if you are a mixer, where this bourbon excels even more.

Nose:

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5 comments

@dbk
dbk commented

Fun review, @Maestroso! I wouldn't worry too much about the "charcoal filtered" aspect—it's not the same as the Lincoln County process by which Jack Daniels and George Dickel are made. In the Lincoln County process, the white dog (new make spirit) is passed through sugar maple charcoal before being put into barrels, primarily to add flavor and (arguably) kick-start the aging process. The charcoal filtering used in Ezra Brooks is post-barrel: it's activated charcoal primarily designed to remove chill haze, though it may have other effects, such as adjusting the color and removing certain impurities from the local water. It's good ol' bourbon, through and through.

13 years ago 0

@Victor
Victor commented

@Maestroso, I saw that Ezra Brooks in your cabinet and wondered whether you would write a review of it before I did! (It's been on my review list for about six months.) I will do a review of this before very long, most likely. I did do a review a while back of the Old Ezra, which is a less common bottle to find. I am completely in agreement with you that this is a very good standard bourbon, though I don't think I ever want to drink it in the 80 proof version. Here I will separate myself from many, probably most of our Connosr members: most of the time I would rather drink any version of Ezra Brooks, starting with this reviewed standard 90 proof expression, than Buffalo Trace standard bourbon.

13 years ago 0

M
Maestroso commented

I completely agree with that last statement .

13 years ago 0

@dbk
dbk commented

Heretics, all of you! ;)

13 years ago 0

@kjarsit
kjarsit commented

Actually, this is a pretty fine bourbon for it's cheap price ($12.50 here in Iowa). It's by far the best lower or middle shelf bourbon that I have tried, and a couple of stores that I have been to have it up with the top shelf. The bottle, with the price, looks odd there, but it's there. Pretty darn good bourbon poured on ice.

12 years ago 0