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Ezra Brooks 99 vs Russell’s Reserve 10 Year
Ezra Brooks 99 and Russell’s Reserve 10 Year sit on opposite sides of a familiar divide: a blender-built, classically built bottling versus an old-guard, rye-forward classic.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Ezra Brooks 99 | Russell’s Reserve 10 Year |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Traditional Bourbon | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 78% corn, 10% rye, 12% malted barley | 75% corn, 13% rye, 12% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | 10 years |
| Proof | 99 proof (49.5% ABV) +9 proof | 90 proof (45% ABV) |
| 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.
Russell’s Reserve 10 Year
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Ezra Brooks 99 Russell’s Reserve 10 Year
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
oak 5/8 oak: Ezra Brooks 99 5 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve 10 Year 8 out of 10
spice 4/6 spice: Ezra Brooks 99 4 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve 10 Year 6 out of 10
fruit 2/4 fruit: Ezra Brooks 99 2 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve 10 Year 4 out of 10
nuttiness 5/3 nuttiness: Ezra Brooks 99 5 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve 10 Year 3 out of 10
heat 5/4 heat: Ezra Brooks 99 5 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve 10 Year 4 out of 10
sweetness 6/6 sweetness: Ezra Brooks 99 6 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve 10 Year 6 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.
- Russell’s Reserve 10 Year: Ten years of Wild Turkey at a restrained 90 proof, which trades the 101's punch for polish. More oak and more composure, and one of the better age-stated bottles at its price.
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 Russell’s Reserve 10 Year if you want an age-stated, oak-forward Wild Turkey with the volume turned down.
Best enjoyed rocks, old-fashioned, cocktails (Ezra Brooks 99); neat, rocks (Russell’s Reserve 10 Year).