Tastes

Smells sweet and a little spicy on the nose. Beautifully smooth when you first sip and then the warm spice sneaks in. Definitely going to buy a bottle of this. A good bourbon for beginners despite the price, but good enough for experienced tasters to discover notes with every sip.

Honestly, I rolled the dice and it’s not the worst I’ve ever done. It’s pretty astringent on the nose, but a drop of water clears that up a bit. Pretty sweet, reminds me of Old Crow bourbon. I won’t buy this one again, but it’s not as bad as these apparent Basil Hayden drinkers say it is. It’s just not a nice whiskey and that’s okay.

My first time trying something this expensive, but it did not disappoint. Definitely sweet and vanilla-y, but with a hint of spice. I’ve never understood what people meant by a creamy texture, but this bourbon certainly has a longer finish that can be described as creamy. Take your time — this mellows as you sip.

Before I give my opinion, we need to clear a few things up: First and foremost — WHY isn't this listed higher on the spicy index? The alcohol bite is something that is felt throughout the entirety of each sip, but it's not too bad after the first sip. Secondly, why the hell are people complaining about this bourbon having a "nail polish remover" nose? I mean, I understand it, but what I'm really asking is why they're writing a tasting note after the first few sips, especially soon after a pour? I noticed the strong alcohol scent, too, but I gave it a little bit and took an insane amount of sips before writing this. Give it some time to air out a little — it's almost half alcohol. I had the same experience with Bulleit and Wild Turkey for crying out loud before figuring out I needed to let the vapor air out. MY TASTING NOTE: A rough bottom shelf bourbon, Ezra Brooks is a diamond in the rough. Once it's aired off, it's kind of sweet on the nose. I drank it neat out of a brandy glass and swirled it a ton over about 30 minutes to an hour. It takes a while, so be patient. Plenty of spicy vanilla and caramel on the palate. Medium length sweet toasted corn, oaky and peppery finish. Each sip made my upper lip very tingly, but it wasn't bad. I give it a 3.5/5 because it DOES take a while to air out when Wild Turkey 101 is enjoyable the entire time, but I will say that it goes quite well in mixed drinks. I tried it with a bourbon, lemon, and tonic (BLT) and — wouldn't you know — I don't like tonic but this was a damn good drink. Confident that this will be my go-to mixer instead of Evan Williams from now on.

At first, I was skeptical. It's something that, despite being small batch, is produced in fairly large quantities. My expectations were more like a fancier Evan Williams. I am glad to say that I was absolutely wrong. I've tried it neat and on the rocks. If you've read enough of my tastes, you know I prefer my bourbon neat. In either case, the spice and heat will linger for a moment but won't be overbearing. The sweetness adds a nice touch, but not too sweet. It's not monumental or overpriced, so feel free to use it in your cocktails! My favorite thing about it is the consistency in flavor as it's used in versatile settings.

I was surprised by the versatility and smoothness of Old Crow. What it lacks in complexity, it makes up as a mixer. It’s sweet, warm, and has a nice soft vanilla on the nose. The finish is moderately quick, warm, and I love that it practically adds flavor with a touch of heat as a mixer. I tried this both neat and in Coke. I prefer a woody, spicy bourbon myself. However, this has a place in one’s liquor cabinet for those who enjoy the 5:30 shift after long 9 to 5. There’s a lot of hate going towards this bourbon for all the wrong reasons. Yes, it’s cheap. Yes, it’s bottom shelf. But that’s not what a rating should be nor should it cloud your judgment of it.

To me, this is pretty similar to Evan Williams Black Label, but it’s a higher proof and quality. Every sip packs a nice punch, but it’s also nice and oaky. Lots of vanilla on the nose, plenty of spice on your tongue. Like the black label, there’s a nice long finish that keeps you asking for more.

This was my first scotch and it’s actually pretty good. I had it with a steak dinner, which was a great pairing. I’ve heard it was pretty harsh, but I found it a little smoky, sweet, and the finish was pretty impressive considering how inexpensive it is. Is it going to be the best? No. You have to take price and where it sits on the shelf into consideration before making harsh opinions. For those who want to explore scotch, this is a good place to start for the price.

I'm going to be honest - For my first experience with Jack Daniels, I'm a bit disappointed. Who would've thought that this was so sweet that it upset my stomach? Plus, I'm not a big fan of the banana. If you're into sweet, sweet whiskey, this is for you.

Packed quite a punch on my first sip. But I can’t emphasize how much I love this bourbon. It’s got spice, it’s got sweetness, and it’s got a nice full flavor. Lastly, the finish is long lasting. Don’t let the low price tag fool you. Just because it’s moderately priced doesn’t mean you’re not going to be in for a great time. I sip my bourbon neat, which sometimes isn’t the best for high proofs. But this is much smoother after the first sip. I would pair this with some good old southern style barbecue.