Compare
Ezra Brooks 99 vs W.L. Weller Special Reserve
Ezra Brooks 99 and W.L. Weller Special Reserve sit on opposite sides of a familiar divide: a blender-built, classically built bottling versus an old-guard, wheat-forward classic.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Ezra Brooks 99 | W.L. Weller Special Reserve |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Traditional Bourbon | Wheated 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) +9 proof | 90 proof (45% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$22 – $28 ~$20 less | ~$30 – $60 |
| Availability | Widely available easier to find | Allocated |
- Ezra Brooks 99 and W.L. Weller Special Reserve do not publish an official mash bill.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 Special Reserve
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Ezra Brooks 99 W.L. Weller Special Reserve
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
fruit 2/5 fruit: Ezra Brooks 99 2 out of 10, W.L. Weller Special Reserve 5 out of 10
spice 4/2 spice: Ezra Brooks 99 4 out of 10, W.L. Weller Special Reserve 2 out of 10
heat 5/3 heat: Ezra Brooks 99 5 out of 10, W.L. Weller Special Reserve 3 out of 10
nuttiness 5/3 nuttiness: Ezra Brooks 99 5 out of 10, W.L. Weller Special Reserve 3 out of 10
sweetness 6/7 sweetness: Ezra Brooks 99 6 out of 10, W.L. Weller Special Reserve 7 out of 10
oak 5/4 oak: Ezra Brooks 99 5 out of 10, W.L. Weller Special Reserve 4 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
The fruit-versus-grain contrast drives this one.
- 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 Special Reserve: The entry point to the Weller line and an easy introduction to wheated bourbon. Soft honey and vanilla with almost no rye bite, a bread-dough body, and a short, sweet finish that asks nothing of you.
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 and without hunting for it.
- Go with W.L. Weller Special Reserve if you want the softest, sweetest, most approachable wheated pour of the group.
Best enjoyed rocks, old-fashioned, cocktails (Ezra Brooks 99); neat, rocks, highball (W.L. Weller Special Reserve).