Ezra Brooks 90 Proof Kentucky Straight Bourbon

Nose: med proof, Classic Palate smooth, Finish: spice

Sugar and additives

This is a bourbon I've been wanting to try. I'd heard that it was surprisingly good for its price point, which tends to run about $12.99 in my local Tampa market. I finally picked up a bottle and it seems natural to compare it to the Jim Beam Black Extra Aged that I just purchased for a princely $2 more at $14.99. Let's see how they stack up, shall we? The Ezra Brooks pours an old copper penny color, the JBBEA just a semi-shade darker. A swirl show surprising sheeting and quick, thin tears down the side of the glencairn. The Beam is maybe a touch more viscous, but they are very close. On the nose I get wet wood funk, a touch of vanilla and a bit of nougat on the nose of the EB. There's no real indication of youth or ethanol/alcohol. The nose isn't pretty, but it's not off-putting at all. It's just not rich as maybe fits reasonable expectations of a sub $15 bottle. Meanwhile the JBBEA actually offers up just a tad more ethanol, which is surprising because it's a lower proof at 84 versus the EB's 90. The JBBEA has a slightly richer caramel note, but the two are more alike than different. On the palate the Ezra is sweet, easy, almost no spice and a very fast finish. There's a blush of sweet vanilla and caramel left on the taste buds after the swallow. It's actually a reasonably nice drink when enjoyed neat, and that's surprising at this price point. Of course I don't think this would be my everyday, its misses that by a small margin. But I have no problems drinking this as it comes. The Beam has a richer wood element, a bit more cinnamon on the slightly longer finish and just a touch more spice. Again, these are pretty close and would make for an interesting A-B=C blind tasting. I've had both of these on ice and they both fit that casual need quite well. I think the EB actually acquits itself when a couple cubes are added. It's sweeter and easier to drink, where as the Beam I think doesn't work as well on ice. Somehow the added water and chilling brings some slightly bitter oak notes a bit more forward. Again, these are subtle differences. The bottom line? I wouldn't stand in line for either and, unless I'm looking for an exceptionally affordable bourbon, I'd pass by either of these for a bottle of Elijah Craig Small Batch, Old Tub or even Buffalo Trace. That said, both of these work nicely in mixed drinks and brink no shame to the server. This is a pretty darn good bottle of inexpensive hooch. I rate on a scale of 1 = undrinkable for me to 5 = a perfect example of the expression. My "curated" bar is only bottles I score at 4 or more. Clearly neither Ezra Brooks nor Jim Beam Black are making it to that level. That said, these are solid average and should hit something like a 2.5 on my scale. I think that's not a bad result. I'll enjoy the rest of this bottle, but more importantly I think this might be a nice foundation for a sweet Old Fashioned or a Whiskey Sour for some in my circle who are not fans of brown liquor. I think they'd enjoy the more subdued and agreeable notes found in either of these value bottles.

Decent bourbon for the price.

None of the common fruity tartness Cereal flavors Burns the nose Not smoky or spicy Neutral palette Boring but not bad