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Ezra Brooks 99 vs Maker’s Mark Cask Strength
Put Ezra Brooks 99 next to Maker’s Mark Cask Strength and you have a blender-built, corn-forward bottling set against an uncut, high-wheat heavyweight.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Ezra Brooks 99 | Maker’s Mark Cask Strength |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Traditional Bourbon | Wheated Bourbon, Barrel Proof |
| Mash Bill 1 | 78% corn, 10% rye, 12% malted barley | 70% corn, 16% wheat, 14% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | No age statement |
| Proof | 99 proof (49.5% ABV) | 110 proof (55% ABV) +11 proof |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$22 – $28 ~$20 less | ~$40 – $50 |
- 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.
Maker’s Mark Cask Strength
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Ezra Brooks 99 Maker’s Mark Cask Strength
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
sweetness 6/9 sweetness: Ezra Brooks 99 6 out of 10, Maker’s Mark Cask Strength 9 out of 10
fruit 2/5 fruit: Ezra Brooks 99 2 out of 10, Maker’s Mark Cask Strength 5 out of 10
heat 5/7 heat: Ezra Brooks 99 5 out of 10, Maker’s Mark Cask Strength 7 out of 10
nuttiness 5/3 nuttiness: Ezra Brooks 99 5 out of 10, Maker’s Mark Cask Strength 3 out of 10
spice 4/3 spice: Ezra Brooks 99 4 out of 10, Maker’s Mark Cask Strength 3 out of 10
oak 5/5 oak: Ezra Brooks 99 5 out of 10, Maker’s Mark Cask Strength 5 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
The clearest split is how sweet each one drinks.
- 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.
- Maker’s Mark Cask Strength: Undiluted Maker's, and the version that finally gives the wheated recipe some weight. Dense caramel and honey with real warmth, and one of the more affordable cask-strength bottles anywhere.
Which One Should You Choose?
- Go with Ezra Brooks 99 if you want a high-proof, nutty, caramel-forward everyday bourbon at a lower price point.
- Go with Maker’s Mark Cask Strength if you want wheated sweetness at full strength for well under what most cask-strength bourbons cost.
Best enjoyed rocks, old-fashioned, cocktails (Ezra Brooks 99); neat, rocks (Maker’s Mark Cask Strength).