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Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond vs Ezra Brooks 99
Put Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond next to Ezra Brooks 99 and you have a classic, high-rye stalwart set against a blender-built, corn-forward bottling.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond | Ezra Brooks 99 |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | Traditional Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 72% corn, 18% rye, 10% malted barley | 78% corn, 10% rye, 12% malted barley |
| Age | 4 years | No age statement |
| Proof | 100 proof (50% ABV) | 99 proof (49.5% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$45 – $55 | ~$22 – $28 ~$25 less |
- 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 Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Ezra Brooks 99
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond Ezra Brooks 99
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
fruit 5/2 fruit: Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond 5 out of 10, Ezra Brooks 99 2 out of 10
spice 6/4 spice: Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond 6 out of 10, Ezra Brooks 99 4 out of 10
oak 7/5 oak: Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond 7 out of 10, Ezra Brooks 99 5 out of 10
nuttiness 3/5 nuttiness: Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond 3 out of 10, Ezra Brooks 99 5 out of 10
sweetness 7/6 sweetness: Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond 7 out of 10, Ezra Brooks 99 6 out of 10
heat 5/5 heat: Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond 5 out of 10, Ezra Brooks 99 5 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Fruit character is what sets these apart.
- Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond: The bonded entry in the Whiskey Row series and a noticeable step up in density from the standard 100. More oak and more weight, though the price gap to the 100 proof is harder to justify than the flavour gap suggests.
- 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 Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond if you want a bonded, denser take on the Old Forester profile with more barrel behind it.
- Go with Ezra Brooks 99 if you want a high-proof, nutty, caramel-forward everyday bourbon at a lower price point.
Best enjoyed neat, old-fashioned (Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond); rocks, old-fashioned, cocktails (Ezra Brooks 99).