Ezra Brooks 90 Proof Straight Rye

Ezra Brooks Rye, aged 2 years according to bottle. ABV: 45%. Aged/distilled in Indiana (MGP). Bottled in Missouri for company based in Kentucky. Mash Bill from what i read on their website is 51% rye, 45% corn, 4% malt. Aroma has a lot of sweetness, slightly similar to Canadian whisky. Cork has a very pleasant/sweet smell to it. Taste: fruity, semi-sweet, a little spice, and a hint of oak. Smooth but with some kick. Cost: ~16 bucks + tax for a 750 ml bottle. Grade: C+

I'd heard that this was a sleeper, and I finally decided to pick up a bottle and find out for myself. This was tasted neat from a glencairn. The nose is classic rye whiskey. It's reminiscent of a Christmas fruit cake. There's a bit of cherry, a little bit of pine, a touch of dill, the slightest tint of mint, and a faint note of ethanol. On the taste buds this is quite tame, but has a number of discreet flavors discernible, typical of a rye. They can be very fruity and this one follows suit. There is the aforementioned dill, rye, a bit of spice, some cherry, a little touch of menthol. This is a 90 proof whiskey, so it's pretty approachable. It drinks actually less than that. This is quite tame but nicely flavored. I am astonished at how good it is considering its price is under $13 a bottle in my local market. I'm going to recommend it based on value for money alone, but this could stand as a reasonably good rye against almost any of the popular mixers out there that sell for nearly twice the price. I made a Butchertown cocktail with this and it was quite tasty. The rye stood up to the Amontillado and Cointreau quite well. This is a bargain mixer and is good enough to enjoy by itself as a sipper.

Pretty darn good $22 rye

Smoke, sweetness, and pepper on the nose. Mild palate of sweetness. Peppery hot long finish