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Ezra Brooks 99 vs Ancient Age
Ezra Brooks 99 and Ancient Age sit on opposite sides of a familiar divide: a blender-built, classically built bottling versus an old-guard, rye-forward classic.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Ezra Brooks 99 | Ancient Age |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Traditional Bourbon | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 78% corn, 10% rye, 12% malted barley | 75% corn, 15% rye, 10% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | No age statement |
| Proof | 99 proof (49.5% ABV) +19 proof | 80 proof (40% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$22 – $28 | ~$14 – $18 ~$9 less |
- Ezra Brooks 99 and Ancient Age do not publish an official mash bill.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
Ezra Brooks 99
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Ancient Age
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Ezra Brooks 99 Ancient Age
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
heat 5/2 heat: Ezra Brooks 99 5 out of 10, Ancient Age 2 out of 10
oak 5/3 oak: Ezra Brooks 99 5 out of 10, Ancient Age 3 out of 10
fruit 2/4 fruit: Ezra Brooks 99 2 out of 10, Ancient Age 4 out of 10
sweetness 6/5 sweetness: Ezra Brooks 99 6 out of 10, Ancient Age 5 out of 10
nuttiness 5/4 nuttiness: Ezra Brooks 99 5 out of 10, Ancient Age 4 out of 10
spice 4/4 spice: Ezra Brooks 99 4 out of 10, Ancient Age 4 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
These two land very differently on the palate for heat.
- 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.
- 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.
Which One Should You Choose?
- Go with Ezra Brooks 99 if you want a high-proof, nutty, caramel-forward everyday bourbon.
- Go with Ancient Age if you want the cheapest honest mixer in the lineup and you are not drinking it neat.
Best enjoyed rocks, old-fashioned, cocktails (Ezra Brooks 99); cocktails, highball (Ancient Age).