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Barrell Foundation Bourbon vs Ezra Brooks 99
Put Barrell Foundation Bourbon next to Ezra Brooks 99 and you have a blender-built, high-rye bottling set against a sourced, corn-forward blend.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Barrell Foundation Bourbon | Ezra Brooks 99 |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | Traditional Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 73% corn, 23% rye, 4% malted barley | 78% corn, 10% rye, 12% malted barley |
| Age | 5 years | No age statement |
| Proof | 100 proof (50% ABV) | 99 proof (49.5% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$50 – $60 | ~$22 – $28 ~$30 less |
- Barrell Foundation Bourbon and Ezra Brooks 99 do not publish an official mash bill.
- US shelf prices as of 2026-10; they vary widely by market.
AG’s Rating and AG’s Notes
Barrell Foundation Bourbon
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Ezra Brooks 99
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Barrell Foundation Bourbon Ezra Brooks 99
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
fruit 5/2 fruit: Barrell Foundation Bourbon 5 out of 10, Ezra Brooks 99 2 out of 10
spice 6/4 spice: Barrell Foundation Bourbon 6 out of 10, Ezra Brooks 99 4 out of 10
nuttiness 3/5 nuttiness: Barrell Foundation Bourbon 3 out of 10, Ezra Brooks 99 5 out of 10
oak 6/5 oak: Barrell Foundation Bourbon 6 out of 10, Ezra Brooks 99 5 out of 10
sweetness 6/6 sweetness: Barrell Foundation Bourbon 6 out of 10, Ezra Brooks 99 6 out of 10
heat 5/5 heat: Barrell Foundation Bourbon 5 out of 10, Ezra Brooks 99 5 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
The fruit-versus-grain contrast drives this one.
- Barrell Foundation Bourbon: Barrell's everyday bottle: a multi-state blend proofed down to 100 instead of bottled at cask strength. Creamy cake and vanilla up front, then a dry, rye-driven peppery finish.
- 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 Barrell Foundation Bourbon if you want an approachable, 100-proof Barrell blend that still shows off multi-state blending with the texture that comes from skipping chill filtration.
- Go with Ezra Brooks 99 if you want a high-proof, nutty, caramel-forward everyday bourbon at a significantly lower price point.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks, old-fashioned (Barrell Foundation Bourbon); rocks, old-fashioned, cocktails (Ezra Brooks 99).