Review #: 446
Description: Ezra Brooks (1990)
Spirit: Bourbon
Background: Another historical brand that comes with an odd bit of history making the specifics a bit cloudy. Ezra Brooks is a brand owned by Luxco (which was recently acquired by MGP) and it came to them in 1992. This bottle having a 90 stamp on the glass, indicates that it was bottled prior to that sale. According to this article, in 1990 the Brand was owned by Glenmore Distillers who bought it and the Medley Distillery in 1988. By that logic, I would assume this to have been made in Owensboro, prior to when Heaven Hill supplied barrels to Luxco.
Distillery – Medley Distillery
Bottler – Glenmore Distillers
Brand – Ezra Brooks
Selection – N/A
ABV – 45%
Age – NAS
Nose – Very fruity, sweet cherry, orange oil, kettle corn, honey, oak
Taste – Quite sweet with brown sugar, pecan pie filling, honey, vanilla
Finish – Nice warmth, cherry pie, toasted oak, pipe tobacco, slight nuttiness in there too
Score: 7
Would I buy a bottle? No idea what these go for at auction, but for some reason I see this as being pretty safe to buy as far of dusties go. It’s been such a solid brand for so long.
Thoughts: This just nails all those bourbon flavors you are looking for. Nice oak structure, sweet but not cloying, warm but not hot. Delicious.