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Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish vs Ezra Brooks 99
Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish and Ezra Brooks 99 are cut from similar cloth: two takes on traditional bourbons, where the real difference is price (~$90 – $130 vs. ~$22 – $28).
Key Specifications
| Feature | Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish | Ezra Brooks 99 |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Traditional Bourbon | Traditional Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | Not disclosed | 78% corn, 10% rye, 12% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | No age statement |
| Proof | 91.4 proof (45.7% ABV) | 99 proof (49.5% ABV) +8 proof |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$90 – $130 | ~$22 – $28 ~$85 less |
| Availability | Limited | Widely available easier to find |
- Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish and Ezra Brooks 99 do not publish an official mash bill.
- US shelf prices as of 2026-08; they vary widely by market.
AG’s Rating and AG’s Notes
Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Ezra Brooks 99
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish Ezra Brooks 99
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
oak 8/5 oak: Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish 8 out of 10, Ezra Brooks 99 5 out of 10
fruit 5/2 fruit: Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish 5 out of 10, Ezra Brooks 99 2 out of 10
sweetness 8/6 sweetness: Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish 8 out of 10, Ezra Brooks 99 6 out of 10
heat 4/5 heat: Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish 4 out of 10, Ezra Brooks 99 5 out of 10
nuttiness 4/5 nuttiness: Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish 4 out of 10, Ezra Brooks 99 5 out of 10
spice 4/4 spice: Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish 4 out of 10, Ezra Brooks 99 4 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Oak is doing most of the differentiating here.
- Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish: The standard Michter's bourbon given a second toasted barrel, which adds sweetness and wood to an already polished pour. Genuinely good, though the price has drifted well past what the liquid alone justifies.
- 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.
Which One Should You Choose?
- Go with Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish if you want the smoothest, most polished toasted-barrel pour here and price is not the deciding factor with the texture that comes from skipping chill filtration.
- 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.
Best enjoyed neat (Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish); rocks, old-fashioned, cocktails (Ezra Brooks 99).