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Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond vs Ezra Brooks 99
Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond and Ezra Brooks 99 sit on opposite sides of a familiar divide: an old-guard, wheat-forward classic versus a blender-built, classically built bottling.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond | Ezra Brooks 99 |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Wheated Bourbon | Traditional Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 68% corn, 20% wheat, 12% malted barley | 78% corn, 10% rye, 12% malted barley |
| Age | 9 years | No age statement |
| Proof | 100 proof (50% ABV) | 99 proof (49.5% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$110 – $180 | ~$22 – $28 ~$120 less |
| Availability | Allocated | Widely available easier to find |
- Ezra Brooks 99 does 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
Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Ezra Brooks 99
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond Ezra Brooks 99
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
fruit 6/2 fruit: Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond 6 out of 10, Ezra Brooks 99 2 out of 10
sweetness 8/6 sweetness: Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond 8 out of 10, Ezra Brooks 99 6 out of 10
spice 2/4 spice: Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond 2 out of 10, Ezra Brooks 99 4 out of 10
oak 7/5 oak: Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond 7 out of 10, Ezra Brooks 99 5 out of 10
nuttiness 3/5 nuttiness: Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond 3 out of 10, Ezra Brooks 99 5 out of 10
heat 4/5 heat: Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond 4 out of 10, Ezra Brooks 99 5 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Fruit character is what sets these apart.
- Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond: The decanter series, released twice a year at varying ages, and Heaven Hill's most serious wheated statement. Age shows as polished oak and stewed fruit rather than tannin, but you pay handsomely for the bottle.
- 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 Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond if you want an aged, bonded wheater in a presentation bottle and the price is not the obstacle.
- 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 (Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond); rocks, old-fashioned, cocktails (Ezra Brooks 99).