Ezra Brooks 90 Proof Kentucky Straight Bourbon

Best budget bourbon I’ve found. Vanilla, with fruit - I’d describe as a melon-like sweetness. I didn’t pick up on the often-noted peanut flavor, but the finish had a definite - but pleasing - oak tannin.

Wow. A really wonderful bourbon. $18 for 1.75L??? Are you kidding me? Citrus, vanilla, a little floral, and a little spice, and great medium long finish. 90 proof is another wonderful surprise. Great spectrum of notes, yet mellow enough to sip. Not overpoweringly tart or smokey. Don't reach for any other bottom shelf bourbon. Pick this up today, and sip it everyday.

So good for the price!

Recent discussion in a local whiskey Facebook group, Arizona Whiskey Community, on the subject of underrated bottles reminded me of this gem. Ezra Brooks comes from Lux Row Distillers, many times referred to as Luxco. At this time the label is widely believed to be sourced from Heaven Hill, though Luxco has not officially confirmed nor denied this. The label proclaims the bourbon is "charcoal mellowed," which is similar to Evan Williams' "charcoal filtered" language on their label. Unlike the Lincoln County Process for Tennessee Whiskey, the charcoal filtering here occurs before bottling instead of prior to barreling and aging. Lux Row officially opened their own distillery in Bardstown, Kentucky and filled the first barrel with their distillate on January 10th, 2018. Using a 43-foot custom copper still, they have the capacity to produce 3 million gallons per year. I've initially held off purchasing a bottle due to gimmicky language on the label: "aged the old fashioned way," what does that even imply?! After picking up and tasting my first bottle, this has convinced me not to judge whiskey simply based on dubious label language alone. Consequently, this bottle can also be blamed on me trying some subpar whiskey in search of the next affordable gem. Oak char on the nose with nuts, caramel, and hint of mint. On the palate there's oak, black cherry, almond toffee, and leather. Finish starts off sweet and ends with black pepper spice.

The nose has a unique scent of like brown sugar and what you’d picture drift wood to smell like. The flavor is spicy and a tad floral. I enjoy it

Neck and neck with Evan Williams BiB for best budget bourbon imo. Amazing that a handle of this stuff is like just 25 bucks, they could probably get 35 np.

Surprenant pour 15$ USD! Nettement meilleur que tous les autres bourbons d’entré de gamme! Je vais en racheter ! Goûté à Détroit en 2019-09.

Good Solid Bourbon with Sweet Earthy flavors and good strength.