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Elijah Craig Barrel Proof vs Ezra Brooks 99
Elijah Craig Barrel Proof and Ezra Brooks 99 sit on opposite sides of a familiar divide: an undiluted barrel-strength pour versus a sourced, classically built blend.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Elijah Craig Barrel Proof | Ezra Brooks 99 |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Traditional Bourbon, Barrel Proof | Traditional Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 78% corn, 10% rye, 12% malted barley | 78% corn, 10% rye, 12% malted barley |
| Age | 12 years | No age statement |
| Proof | 124 proof (62% ABV) +25 proof | 99 proof (49.5% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$70 – $100 | ~$22 – $28 ~$60 less |
| Availability | Limited | Widely available easier to find |
- Ezra Brooks 99 does 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
Elijah Craig Barrel Proof
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Ezra Brooks 99
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Elijah Craig Barrel Proof Ezra Brooks 99
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
oak 9/5 oak: Elijah Craig Barrel Proof 9 out of 10, Ezra Brooks 99 5 out of 10
heat 9/5 heat: Elijah Craig Barrel Proof 9 out of 10, Ezra Brooks 99 5 out of 10
spice 7/4 spice: Elijah Craig Barrel Proof 7 out of 10, Ezra Brooks 99 4 out of 10
fruit 4/2 fruit: Elijah Craig Barrel Proof 4 out of 10, Ezra Brooks 99 2 out of 10
sweetness 7/6 sweetness: Elijah Craig Barrel Proof 7 out of 10, Ezra Brooks 99 6 out of 10
nuttiness 4/5 nuttiness: Elijah Craig Barrel Proof 4 out of 10, Ezra Brooks 99 5 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Oak is doing most of the differentiating here.
- Elijah Craig Barrel Proof: The uncut, unfiltered version of the same 12-year Heaven Hill juice, and the intensity is the whole point. Thick fudge and char with cinnamon heat, a genuinely long finish, and enough proof that water meaningfully changes the glass.
- 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 Elijah Craig Barrel Proof if you want maximum intensity and oak depth, and you want to control the dilution yourself 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 and without hunting for it.
Best enjoyed neat (Elijah Craig Barrel Proof); rocks, old-fashioned, cocktails (Ezra Brooks 99).