Tastes

Strangely I’m liking this a little bit less as I work my way through the bottle, though it remains a decent pour. Given the price point, I wish I liked it more, but it’s still solid.

Arguably my favorite bourbon that is relatively easy to come by and isn’t marked up beyond reason — despite the higher proof, the Old Ezra 7-Year sips very smooth and has just the right flavor profile. No heavy ethanol on the nose or harsh burn going down, but sure to keep you warm with notes of toffee and roasted marshmallow.

Gets better and better as you work your way through the bottle. Laser code LL/GH indicates this is among the 2018 bottlings, stated to contain older whiskey than previous years’ batches. I don’t have a frame of reference on how those previous batches tasted, but this one is damn good.

Hot, definitely smells of alcohol on the nose, and yet... surprisingly sweet, given the initial greeting. It’s hotter than I’m used to, from start to finish, but while it may not be my style for sipping, it stands up quite well to cocktails.

Even with a step up in proof from the standard Old Overholt offering, the bonded version maintains the nice combination of spicy and sweet that makes its 80-proof counterpart excellent in a variety of whiskey or bourbon cocktails. Drank this neat, then with a few drops of water. (Price note: $33 for a 1-liter bottle.)