Old Ezra 7 - Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey - Barrel Strength
$65.99
Old Ezra 7 – Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey – Barrel Strength
Proof: 117
Age: 7 Years
Distillery: Lux Row Distillers
Type: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Mash: Corn, Barley, Rye (% Unspecified on site)
Website: Ezra Brooks
*Disclaimer: A score of 5 is the midpoint for my reviews. Above 5 I like it. Below 5 I didn’t for some reason. Most of my reviews are between 4-7. It takes something really really special to go above 7 or below 4. See the methodologies for rating at the end of the article
Nose: The high proof is evident on the nose. You get your honker in there too deep and whiff there’s a noticeable burn. After I collected myself and revisited from a safe distance… I pick up Cinnamon upfront followed by your standard Vanilla & Caramel. On the end I get Floral notes. It doesn’t come across terribly complex.
Taste/Palate: The mouthfeel is slightly dry and thin. I get Dark Fruits and some Orange Peel up front followed by Leather and Tobacco in the midpalate. There’s a decent burn to this at the end. I’m sure there’s no surprise on that given it’s 58.5%, but I can confirm you get more heat from this than I do from my comparative Stagg Jr which clocks in at 63.95%.
Finish: Following the throat heat you get from the palate, the finish of this rounds out nicely. You get sweet notes of Vanilla and Caramel with hints of Dark Fruits and Orange Zest again.
Verdict: I like a whole range of proofs in my bourbons, but this one I think I’d modify if it were me. 7 years is a long time in dog years, but I think this could have sat for maybe 2-3 more years at its current proof. The high alcohol content makes it seem more young than it is. Don’t get me wrong, I like this bourbon, but I would be interested to taste this at a bottled proof of 100 or maybe a couple years longer in the barrel as stated above. It has a solid taste and there is a lot going on there, but I think it takes something special for a bourbon to be 58-63% and make you forget that you could use this to run an automobile.
The Story: I’ll get into my personal tasting journey. 10 years ago I would have drank this on ice. But, I slowly started to reduce the ice to 1 to 2 cubes until about 5 years ago where I would only drink bourbons neat. I don’t think there’s a specific way anyone HAS to enjoy bourbon, but for me I get the most taste when I don’t change anything. I started to get into high proof bourbons when I was able to snag Bookers, Stagg Jr, and Old Forester 1920 on a regular basis, but to be honest I have to be in the mood for a high proof bourbon. My palate typically likes 55% and below. To review this bourbon I had to put it up against the other higher proof bourbons as mentioned above to compare apples to apples. Beware: the thoroughness of this review did come with a headache the next day. Compare higher proof bourbons more responsibly than I did….
The Distillery’s Story: Ezra Brooks is owned by Lux Row Distillers. Lux Row has other notable brands such as Blood Oath, David Nicholson, Daviess County, and Rebel. They have been a non distilling producer for some time now, but as of 2018 they started to distill on their own. Given the Old Ezra is 7 years old, I can say with certainty that it was sourced. Interested to try their own sauce in the future.
Methodologies for Rating:
1. Dump it down the drain or regift it to someone you don’t care for.
2. This doesn’t even belong in a mixed drink. Use in case of an emergency.
3. It’s really not for me, but I heard some people like it.
4. Its only good when I’ve had too many and it’s decent in a mixer.
5. Solid. It hit all of what’s expected.
6. Above average. Good to bring to an event and you wouldn’t expect any guff from it.
7. Buy two if you see it to make sure you have one on reserve.
8. Very Very good. Constantly a GREAT POUR.
9. Superb. If I were to drink this and only this from now on I’d be a happy person.
10. Perfection is impossible. But this really comes as close as you can possibly get.
Nose, Palate, and Finish I rank regardless of cost. Value (recent addition) is ranked based on taste vs price.
Reviewer: David S
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