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Ezra Brooks 99 vs Penelope Toasted Series
Ezra Brooks 99 and Penelope Toasted Series sit on opposite sides of a familiar divide: a sourced, classically built blend versus a blender-built, rye-forward bottling.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Ezra Brooks 99 | Penelope Toasted Series |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Traditional Bourbon | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 78% corn, 10% rye, 12% malted barley | 75% corn, 21% rye, 4% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | No age statement |
| Proof | 99 proof (49.5% ABV) | 100 proof (50% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$22 – $28 ~$38 less | ~$55 – $70 |
- 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.
Penelope Toasted Series
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Ezra Brooks 99 Penelope Toasted Series
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
oak 5/7 oak: Ezra Brooks 99 5 out of 10, Penelope Toasted Series 7 out of 10
fruit 2/4 fruit: Ezra Brooks 99 2 out of 10, Penelope Toasted Series 4 out of 10
nuttiness 5/3 nuttiness: Ezra Brooks 99 5 out of 10, Penelope Toasted Series 3 out of 10
sweetness 6/7 sweetness: Ezra Brooks 99 6 out of 10, Penelope Toasted Series 7 out of 10
spice 4/5 spice: Ezra Brooks 99 4 out of 10, Penelope Toasted Series 5 out of 10
heat 5/5 heat: Ezra Brooks 99 5 out of 10, Penelope Toasted Series 5 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Barrel influence is the main separator.
- 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.
- Penelope Toasted Series: Finished in a second, freshly toasted barrel, which pushes it toward toffee, roasted coffee and darker oak. The toast level changes from batch to batch.
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.
- Go with Penelope Toasted Series if you want a toasty, coffee-and-toffee bourbon from a second-barrel finish with the texture that comes from skipping chill filtration.
Best enjoyed rocks, old-fashioned, cocktails (Ezra Brooks 99); neat, old-fashioned (Penelope Toasted Series).