Compare
Ezra Brooks 99 vs W.L. Weller 12 Year
Ezra Brooks 99 and W.L. Weller 12 Year sit on opposite sides of a familiar divide: a sourced, classically built blend versus an old-guard, wheat-forward classic.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Ezra Brooks 99 | W.L. Weller 12 Year |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Traditional Bourbon | Wheated Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 78% corn, 10% rye, 12% malted barley | Not disclosed |
| Age | No age statement | 12 years |
| Proof | 99 proof (49.5% ABV) +9 proof | 90 proof (45% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$22 – $28 ~$100 less | ~$70 – $180 |
| Availability | Widely available easier to find | Allocated |
- Ezra Brooks 99 and W.L. Weller 12 Year do not publish an official mash bill.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.
W.L. Weller 12 Year
No notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Ezra Brooks 99 W.L. Weller 12 Year
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
fruit 2/6 fruit: Ezra Brooks 99 2 out of 10, W.L. Weller 12 Year 6 out of 10
sweetness 6/8 sweetness: Ezra Brooks 99 6 out of 10, W.L. Weller 12 Year 8 out of 10
spice 4/2 spice: Ezra Brooks 99 4 out of 10, W.L. Weller 12 Year 2 out of 10
oak 5/7 oak: Ezra Brooks 99 5 out of 10, W.L. Weller 12 Year 7 out of 10
heat 5/3 heat: Ezra Brooks 99 5 out of 10, W.L. Weller 12 Year 3 out of 10
nuttiness 5/3 nuttiness: Ezra Brooks 99 5 out of 10, W.L. Weller 12 Year 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Fruit character is what sets these apart.
- 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.
- W.L. Weller 12 Year: Twelve years on a wheated mash at a modest 90 proof, which is the combination that made this bottle famous. Deep caramel and baked fruit with polished rather than aggressive oak — the closest widely-discussed analogue to the Pappy profile.
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 W.L. Weller 12 Year if you want age and elegance on a wheated mash, and you are willing to chase it.
Best enjoyed rocks, old-fashioned, cocktails (Ezra Brooks 99); neat (W.L. Weller 12 Year).