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Ezra Brooks 99 vs Elijah Craig Barrel Proof
Ezra Brooks 99 and Elijah Craig Barrel Proof sit on opposite sides of a familiar divide: a blender-built, classically built bottling versus an undiluted barrel-strength pour.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Ezra Brooks 99 | Elijah Craig Barrel Proof |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Traditional Bourbon | Traditional Bourbon, Barrel Proof |
| Mash Bill 1 | 78% corn, 10% rye, 12% malted barley | 78% corn, 10% rye, 12% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | 12 years |
| Proof | 99 proof (49.5% ABV) | 124 proof (62% ABV) +25 proof |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$22 – $28 ~$60 less | ~$70 – $100 |
| Availability | Widely available easier to find | Limited |
- Ezra Brooks 99 does 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.
Elijah Craig Barrel Proof
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Ezra Brooks 99 Elijah Craig Barrel Proof
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
oak 5/9 oak: Ezra Brooks 99 5 out of 10, Elijah Craig Barrel Proof 9 out of 10
heat 5/9 heat: Ezra Brooks 99 5 out of 10, Elijah Craig Barrel Proof 9 out of 10
spice 4/7 spice: Ezra Brooks 99 4 out of 10, Elijah Craig Barrel Proof 7 out of 10
fruit 2/4 fruit: Ezra Brooks 99 2 out of 10, Elijah Craig Barrel Proof 4 out of 10
sweetness 6/7 sweetness: Ezra Brooks 99 6 out of 10, Elijah Craig Barrel Proof 7 out of 10
nuttiness 5/4 nuttiness: Ezra Brooks 99 5 out of 10, Elijah Craig Barrel Proof 4 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Oak is doing most of the differentiating here.
- 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.
- 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.
Which One Should You Choose?
- 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.
- 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.
Best enjoyed rocks, old-fashioned, cocktails (Ezra Brooks 99); neat (Elijah Craig Barrel Proof).