Old Ezra 7 Year Barrel Strength Bourbon

This is in my taste preference wheelhouse. Vanilla , dark maple , molasses, soft oak , . Nice length on the finish. Some bottle deviations in the two bottles I have finished, but both were very nice

Maple syrup, prunes, and sawdust hit the nose, with a hint of banana pudding. Good mouthfeel and generous amount of oak on the tongue. The proof packs a punch but doesn’t knock you off your feet. Short finish with the heat lingering in the mouth for a while. A practical and straightforward definition of bourbon, without any real surprises, good or bad.

Smooth

Open 2 months Nose - Vanilla bean, toast, toffee, caramel, blackberries, cherries, big oak spice, and medium ethanol. Palate - Heavy caramel and vanilla, toffee, toasted rye bread, berry compote, astringent oak spice, chocolate, and burnt wood. Finish is medium-long with dry and tannic oak, dry baking spices, caramel chew, chocolate covered cherries, and noticeable ethanol bite. I think this went from underrated to overrated in a matter of 2-3 years, thanks to YouTube and multiple price increases. It wasn't available in NC until a couple of years ago, and it was very difficult to find. Now it is slightly easier to find, although still difficult, but that also coincided with two price hikes from $45 to $50, then to $60. Old Ezra 7Y is good high proof bourbon, and you would think by my notes that it is rich and complex. It is not. Those vanilla, caramel, and fruit notes are on the dry side of the bourbon flavor profile, with the oak and char dominating the palate and finish. Seven years honestly seems like an understatement, I would guess it is mostly 8-12 year old bourbon based on the oak presence. At this price I would buy Old Forester 1920 every time over this, which has a similar flavor profile (minus the banana bread) but is a more rounded bourbon. The oak in the bourbon also has a lot in common with George Dickel BiB minus the minerality. When it was $45, this was a great deal a la Rare Breed. Now that it is $60, you could buy quite a few options from major distillers that are better.

From WhiskyFest