Ezra Brooks Bourbon
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Nose - 82%
82%
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Taste - 84%
84%
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Finish - 83%
83%
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Complexity - 80%
80%
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Value - 95%
95%
User Review
( votes)
Ezra Brooks Bourbon
The Review
Ezra Brooks Bourbon
Ezra Brooks Bourbon is Cheap on Price, but Expensive on Taste
While, I am really more of a scotch drinker, Bourbon is a whiskey I enjoy during the colder months. There is something about the cold, dark evenings that sometimes put me in the mood for the darker, sweeter, heavier bourbon flavor. A couple of years ago, a friend of mine had me do a blind taste test of three different bourbons: Ezra Brooks (Green Label), Jack Daniels, and Evan Williams. I rated the Evan Williams last, and a close draw between the Ezra (green) and Jack Daniels. My friend exclaimed that Ezra Brooks was his favorite. He preferred it over the more expensive Jack Daniels. I had to agree that it tasted good enough that I wouldn’t spend the extra money on Jack either. So, Ezra Bourbon has kind of become my household standard for Bourbon. I’ve always considered the more expensive Bulleit Bourbon to be a very good brand, so I decided to do a little bourbon review and comparison.
Bourbon Bulleit History
There is some interesting history behind Bulleit that makes it worth mentioning in this bourbon review. Bulleit Bourbon was actually invented by a Frenchman who developed a liking for Bourbon after moving from France to New Orleans, than Kentucky (Bourbon-Land). Being from France, Augustus Bulleit developed a recipe which was a little different than popular bourbons. His recipe contained a higher percentage of rye. This could explain some of what I describe in Bulleit’s taste and characteristics below. The other interesting thing is that the maker of Bulleit bourbon vanished in the 1860s. With no family or close friends nearby to take over the recipe, Bulleit Bourbon was no longer made for well over 100 years. In the late 1980’s, a great, great grand-son of Augustus, Tom Bulleit decided to get his hands on the recipe and re-invent his father’s famous bourbon recipe. I’ll never forget the commercials when Bulleit was introduced back in the U.S about 10 years ago. Thinking it was an odd, unfamiliar name to me, I decided to look up a bit of this fascinating history which made me eager to try it. I liked it, but not being much of a bourbon connoisseur, I decided I would stick with the cheaper, reputable brands for my winter bourbon cravings. About 10 years later, I was sold on Ezra Brooks. Now, 10 years later, I thought it would be fun to try Bulleit again and compare it to my standby favorite house brand, Ezra.
Bulleit Bourbon vs. Ezra Brooks
I poured the two in a glass, neat; and set them next to each other. Similar in color; the Ezra is a little more brown-colored while Bulleit slightly more amber-gold. The Ezra Brooks is an impressive, clean tasting bourbon. It doesn’t have that cheap, plastic-type taste that I’ve noticed with some of the other bargain-priced bourbon. The taste is dark, rich and syrupy, almost a little like brown sugar and walnuts. The finish is surprisingly smooth for a bourbon that sells for $13-$14.00 in a 1.75 Liter Bottle. There really isn’t anything too complex about it’s flavor. The Bulleit didn’t knock me off my feet when I sipped it for the first time. It was similar to the Ezra Brooks in smoothness and front-flavor. The difference is that the Bulleit became more distinguished as I continued to taste it. It is a little spicier, and begins to round out with tastes of vanilla, caramel, walnut and maybe even a little fruity smokiness. Without a doubt, the Bulleit has a more complex taste and longer finish than the Ezra Brooks. Bulleit is definitely worthy of it’s pricier cost.
Bourbon Conclusion
I rate both Ezra Brooks and Bulleit Bourbon very high, but for different reasons. Because I am not a bourbon drinker, the pricier, but more sophisticated tasting Bulleit doesn’t really intrigue me enough that I would pay more than twice as much for it. On the other hand, if I were a bourbon connoisseur, I can imagine that I might prefer complexities; like the hint of smoke, fruit and longer lasting flavor of Bulleit to the clean, brief finish of Ezra Brooks. If you like to keep Bourbon in your liquor cabinet for a quick warm-up on a cold winter night or for mixing drinks, you’re going to have a hard time finding a better value than Ezra Brooks bourbon for $12.99. I will stick with the Ezra Brooks Bourbon, for now.
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Jack Daniels is not a bourbon. It is sour mash whiskey.
All sour mash IS bourbon whiskey. Yet, not even whiskey makers can tell the difference. Nor, do they agree. What all whiskey makers do agree on is that all bourbon is whiskey, but not all whiskey is bourbon.
All sour mash is in fact bourbon whiskey, but not all bourbon is sour mash. Generally, when a sour mash whiskey is made in the United States we call it, Bourbon. But, that’s besides the point of my article.
When it gets down to making a popular drink like a Manhattan or an Old Fashioned, not one person in the world is going to say, “Gee, this bourbon is NOT a sour mash”
And when it comes to the comparison between Jack Daniels and Ezra Brooks, very few people are going to know the difference. So, my challenge to you, Tommy: Give the two a try – Jack Daniels vs Ezra Brooks. I’d like your feedback.
Thanks for the comments.
Rob
I love Ezra. Have drank it for years. My cousin always made fun of me, drinking a cheaper whiskey. He thinks Wild Turkey is the good stuff. So I had him do a blind taste test one time. And guess what? He said the Ezra Brooks tasted better. Or rather he said the Ezra was the Wild Turkey he thought. 😉 Ezra Brooks is a good whiskey at a great price. I bet if they charged more for it…my cousin would be buying it. Lots of folks try to measure quality by how much something cost. When it comes to whiskey, you can get great quality at a good cost with Ezra.
I agree, Phil. A friend of mine introduced me to Ezra Brooks Bourbon at a Christmas Party. He gave me a blind taste test between 3 whiskies and one of them was Jack Daniels. I chose the Ezra as my favorite. My friend agrees, he’d rather drink Ezra than Jack Daniels for half the price.
Since rollin barrel’s at Medley Distillery, during the summer’s when I was in school in Kentucky, I’ve tried most every bourbon Ky has to offer. From Ky Tavern and Daviess County to the now Signature Bourbons. Don’t live in the South presently, but you better believe the local liquor store in town carries my favorite Bourbon Ezra Brooks. Of course I had to request it, but now the locals and myself have access to one of the best 90 proof Kentucky Sour Mash Bourbons made. And one that’s priced right enough so that your liquor cabinet will never be without a bottle.
I guess it’s sorta like Vidalia onions. If your not from Vidalia, Ga, somebody’s got to tell you about them or give you a bite of one to find out how good they are.
I’ve been drinking Bourbon for about 20 years now and have tried them all at one time or another. My bourbon drinking friends all think that thier favorite brand is the best. At this time myself and four of my friends are Ezra Brooks fans. It is the smoothest, most drinkable bourbon I’ve ever tasted, weather neat, on the rocks or mixed. It holds up well any way.
Roy,
That’s quite an endorsement for Ezra Brooks. Personally, I’m not a bourbon expert, but I know enough to taste that it’s as good as better as some bourbons that cost twice as much. I’ll stick with Ezra Brooks bourbon in the winter time. Bourbon, to me, is meant for the cold evenings. I lighten up in the summer with rum, vodka and gin.
Rob,
Agree with all your findings. However, if you find yourself thirsty on a hot summer evening, make yourself a good Whiskey sour, tall, shaken with ice and drizzle a bit of your favorite grenadine over the ice while the pour is still bubbling and I’ll bet you might change your mind about Ezra being a cold evening warmer. 🙂
I’ve never been one to think price begets quality. Oftentimes the opposite is true (even though our minds might play tricks on us). But over the course of 10 plus year with Jim Beam, Jack Daniels, Crown, and Ezra, Ezra wins hands down. When you add the element of price, it blows all the rest out of the water.
Good review!
That is a delicious drink suggestion, Jimmy. Obviously, we have another believer in Ezra Brooks, here.
I’ve yet to meet someone, even dedicated bourbon drinkers, who have tried Ezra and don’t now drink it regularly.
Great post!. .Thanks.
Rob
Hey yall, weird that theres an article for ole Ezra but thats cool. I have been drinking it since college (about 5 years) because the staple for me and buds at Georgia Southern was Jim Beam (we were in Sigma Nu fraternity and Jeremiah Beam was as well). One day I guess I realized how Beam tastes like shit. I guess when you leave the college bubble you realize there are better reasons to do certain things. I started trying different bourbons and after spitting out a few I stopped on Ezra. I dont know much about hints of fruit, spiciness, or bourbonesqueness, but I do know that I can throw a splash of coke in with some Ezra and drink it all day or just rocks glass it for a nightcap. Its cheap and I found a handle for $17.99 on sale one day and you cant beat that. Theres beer more expensive than that. And the cork cap is just icing on the cake.
“Through seven generations it is, and will always be, the bourbon for those with a rugged spirit and a taste for adventure.”
Yall should check out Rebel Yell by Luxco as well, its not great but is key when you’re lookin to get crazy.
I’m more of a Scotch guy myself but Ezra Brooks is one nice Bourbon.
I,ve been a Ezra Brooks fan since 1994, and am a “Bourbon Circle” member. These guys know what they are doing.Used to be a fifth a week consumer, now it’s a special occation thing,so it’s even more of a enjoyable expeirence. Sorry to see the “cork” go by the way-side tho.
I have been drinking Ezra Brooks black label for several years and find it the best value in bourbon. I mostly drink old fashioneds and rarely sip straight or on the rocks.
Awesome. Another happy, Ezra Brooks consumer. It’s great to find great values on products we can enjoy and save money at the same time. Ezra really is a good bourbon at a bargain-basement price.
Ezra Brooks is now my new house bourbon for the last few months. I replaced Evan Williams with it. It had a smoothness that I really hadn’t expected in a bourbon of that price tag. Fantastic tawny color with some brick, with some earth, leather, and that brown sugar, near pure molasses finish is impressive. I do have to say though if the boys in Kentucky hear that you said that Tennessee’s Jack Daniels is a bourbon they’d be a might disagreeable. Cheers!!
PS. That sparkling wine from California is not Champagne 😉
tried it for the first time tonight…..popped the cork on a 1970 bottle that was aged 150 months..which puts it at 1958. she’s got a heavy flavor…but i am far from complaining. how often does a guy get to try 50+ year old bourbon?
ezra brooks is an easy to drink bourbon, ( no frills ). is it the best ??? I’ve had better at much higher cost, as a go to, it’s actually not half bad.
Growing up in the 80’s, all I drank was Jack. I thought that was the best. Now since I have aged, I have done my homework. In my opinion I have it narrowed down to these three. Markers Mark, Jim Beam Black and Ezra Brooks. The bottom line is for the price, you can’t beat Ezra. It has a great taste. That is what I buy now on a consistent basis.
Unfortunately, Old Ezra 101 7 Yr. is not the bargain it once was, at least in the Dallas area. I have not seen it for less than $22.00. Wild Turkey 101 is $23.00, and Jack Daniel’s is $19.00. The best buy right now in 100 proof bourbon is probably Evan Williams BIB at $15.00.
Years ago, at a Syracuse downtown hotel with a bar in the lower level, a long time barkeep ran a comparison challenge. When he came on duty he pinned a $100 bill on the back wall.
The challenge was that he would put a half ounce of Ezra in 5 shot glasses and the same for the JD. Anyone who could pick all five of the JD vs the Ezra got the $100…Over a 20 year period…..NO WINNERS!!
Oh, I forgot… Frankie drank JD…..
Bil
Ezra Brooks Kentucky Bourbon (Black Label) is smooth and organic with a hint of honey. It mixes well with ginger ale, in a toddy, straight up or on the rocks. I never cared for flavored vodkas or bourbons. With Ezra Brooks, the sweet and smooth come naturally.
Ezra is the real deal. Start from there and you’ll have an excellent 9-9.5 base line to explore the rest.
Enjoy the pleasures of life and the journey of discovery. Sparky Taylor/ lead guitarist for OUTLAW SHINE.
Quite surprised by the great taste for the price. I would put it up there with JB and Heaven Hill.
The bottle cap and crock have problems they come apart never had these happen before