Compare
Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel vs Ezra Brooks 99
Comparing Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel and Ezra Brooks 99 is a closer contest than it looks — both are traditional bourbons, separated mainly by price (~$60 – $80 vs. ~$22 – $28).
Key Specifications
| Feature | Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel | Ezra Brooks 99 |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Traditional Bourbon | Traditional Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 78% corn, 10% rye, 12% malted barley | 78% corn, 10% rye, 12% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | No age statement |
| Proof | 94 proof (47% ABV) | 99 proof (49.5% ABV) +5 proof |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$60 – $80 | ~$22 – $28 ~$45 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 Toasted Barrel
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Ezra Brooks 99
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel Ezra Brooks 99
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
oak 9/5 oak: Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel 9 out of 10, Ezra Brooks 99 5 out of 10
sweetness 8/6 sweetness: Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel 8 out of 10, Ezra Brooks 99 6 out of 10
fruit 4/2 fruit: Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel 4 out of 10, Ezra Brooks 99 2 out of 10
spice 5/4 spice: Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel 5 out of 10, Ezra Brooks 99 4 out of 10
heat 4/5 heat: Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel 4 out of 10, Ezra Brooks 99 5 out of 10
nuttiness 5/5 nuttiness: Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel 5 out of 10, Ezra Brooks 99 5 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Oak is doing most of the differentiating here.
- Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel: Finished in a second toasted (not charred) barrel, which produces an unmistakable toasted-marshmallow note. Sweet and heavily wooded, and one of the more distinctive finishes any major producer makes.
- 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 Toasted Barrel if you want a distinctive toasted-oak, marshmallow-sweet finish you will not find in a standard bourbon.
- 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, rocks (Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel); rocks, old-fashioned, cocktails (Ezra Brooks 99).