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Ezra Brooks 99 vs Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish
Ezra Brooks 99 and Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish are cut from similar cloth: two takes on traditional bourbons, where the real difference is price (~$22 – $28 vs. ~$90 – $130).
Key Specifications
| Feature | Ezra Brooks 99 | Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Traditional Bourbon | Traditional Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 78% corn, 10% rye, 12% malted barley | Not disclosed |
| Age | No age statement | No age statement |
| Proof | 99 proof (49.5% ABV) +8 proof | 91.4 proof (45.7% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$22 – $28 ~$85 less | ~$90 – $130 |
| Availability | Widely available easier to find | Limited |
- Ezra Brooks 99 and Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish do not publish an official mash bill.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.
Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Ezra Brooks 99 Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
oak 5/8 oak: Ezra Brooks 99 5 out of 10, Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish 8 out of 10
fruit 2/5 fruit: Ezra Brooks 99 2 out of 10, Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish 5 out of 10
sweetness 6/8 sweetness: Ezra Brooks 99 6 out of 10, Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish 8 out of 10
heat 5/4 heat: Ezra Brooks 99 5 out of 10, Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish 4 out of 10
nuttiness 5/4 nuttiness: Ezra Brooks 99 5 out of 10, Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish 4 out of 10
spice 4/4 spice: Ezra Brooks 99 4 out of 10, Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish 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.
- Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish: The standard Michter's bourbon given a second toasted barrel, which adds sweetness and wood to an already polished pour. Genuinely good, though the price has drifted well past what the liquid alone justifies.
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 Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish if you want the smoothest, most polished toasted-barrel pour here and price is not the deciding factor with the texture that comes from skipping chill filtration.
Best enjoyed rocks, old-fashioned, cocktails (Ezra Brooks 99); neat (Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish).