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Ezra Brooks 99 vs New Riff Bottled-in-Bond
Ezra Brooks 99 and New Riff Bottled-in-Bond sit on opposite sides of a familiar divide: a sourced, classically built blend versus a new-wave, rye-forward craft style.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Ezra Brooks 99 | New Riff Bottled-in-Bond |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Traditional Bourbon | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 78% corn, 10% rye, 12% malted barley | 65% corn, 30% rye, 5% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | 4 years |
| Proof | 99 proof (49.5% ABV) | 100 proof (50% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$22 – $28 ~$17 less | ~$38 – $45 |
- 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.
New Riff Bottled-in-Bond
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Ezra Brooks 99 New Riff Bottled-in-Bond
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
spice 4/9 spice: Ezra Brooks 99 4 out of 10, New Riff Bottled-in-Bond 9 out of 10
fruit 2/5 fruit: Ezra Brooks 99 2 out of 10, New Riff Bottled-in-Bond 5 out of 10
sweetness 6/4 sweetness: Ezra Brooks 99 6 out of 10, New Riff Bottled-in-Bond 4 out of 10
nuttiness 5/3 nuttiness: Ezra Brooks 99 5 out of 10, New Riff Bottled-in-Bond 3 out of 10
heat 5/6 heat: Ezra Brooks 99 5 out of 10, New Riff Bottled-in-Bond 6 out of 10
oak 5/5 oak: Ezra Brooks 99 5 out of 10, New Riff Bottled-in-Bond 5 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
The gap between these two is mostly about spice.
- 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.
- New Riff Bottled-in-Bond: At 30% rye this is about as spice-forward as bourbon gets before becoming rye whiskey. Peppery and herbal with mint and dill, non-chill-filtered for texture, and noticeably dry rather than sweet.
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 New Riff Bottled-in-Bond if you want aggressive rye spice and a dry, herbal profile from a modern craft distillery with the texture that comes from skipping chill filtration.
Best enjoyed rocks, old-fashioned, cocktails (Ezra Brooks 99); neat, old-fashioned, cocktails (New Riff Bottled-in-Bond).