Compare
Ancient Age vs Ezra Brooks 99
Ancient Age and Ezra Brooks 99 sit on opposite sides of a familiar divide: an old-guard, rye-forward classic versus a sourced, classically built blend.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Ancient Age | Ezra Brooks 99 |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | Traditional Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 75% corn, 15% rye, 10% malted barley | 78% corn, 10% rye, 12% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | No age statement |
| Proof | 80 proof (40% ABV) | 99 proof (49.5% ABV) +19 proof |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$14 – $18 ~$9 less | ~$22 – $28 |
- Ancient Age and Ezra Brooks 99 do not publish an official mash bill.
- US shelf prices as of 2026-08; they vary widely by market.
AG’s Rating and AG’s Notes
Ancient Age
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Ezra Brooks 99
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Ancient Age Ezra Brooks 99
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
heat 2/5 heat: Ancient Age 2 out of 10, Ezra Brooks 99 5 out of 10
oak 3/5 oak: Ancient Age 3 out of 10, Ezra Brooks 99 5 out of 10
fruit 4/2 fruit: Ancient Age 4 out of 10, Ezra Brooks 99 2 out of 10
sweetness 5/6 sweetness: Ancient Age 5 out of 10, Ezra Brooks 99 6 out of 10
nuttiness 4/5 nuttiness: Ancient Age 4 out of 10, Ezra Brooks 99 5 out of 10
spice 4/4 spice: Ancient Age 4 out of 10, Ezra Brooks 99 4 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
These two land very differently on the palate for heat.
- Ancient Age: The bottom rung of the Buffalo Trace ladder and priced accordingly. Thin and simple at 80 proof, but it is recognisably the Mash Bill #2 recipe and it does its job in a highball without complaint.
- Ezra Brooks 99: A high-proof value bottle from Lux Row. The nose is quiet, but the palate is bolder, with creamy caramel, brown sugar and a nutty, peanut-like edge.
Which One Should You Choose?
- Go with Ancient Age if you want the cheapest honest mixer in the lineup and you are not drinking it neat.
- Go with Ezra Brooks 99 if you want a high-proof, nutty, caramel-forward everyday bourbon.
Best enjoyed cocktails, highball (Ancient Age); rocks, old-fashioned, cocktails (Ezra Brooks 99).