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Old Grand-Dad Bonded vs Ezra Brooks 99
Comparing Old Grand-Dad Bonded and Ezra Brooks 99 reveals a matchup between a traditional, spice-driven Kentucky staple and a blender-built, even-keeled bottling.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Old Grand-Dad Bonded | Ezra Brooks 99 |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | Traditional Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 63% corn, 27% 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 | ~$24 – $30 | ~$22 – $28 |
- Old Grand-Dad Bonded and Ezra Brooks 99 do not publish an official mash bill.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
Old Grand-Dad Bonded
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Ezra Brooks 99
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Old Grand-Dad Bonded Ezra Brooks 99
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
spice 8/4 spice: Old Grand-Dad Bonded 8 out of 10, Ezra Brooks 99 4 out of 10
fruit 4/2 fruit: Old Grand-Dad Bonded 4 out of 10, Ezra Brooks 99 2 out of 10
sweetness 5/6 sweetness: Old Grand-Dad Bonded 5 out of 10, Ezra Brooks 99 6 out of 10
heat 6/5 heat: Old Grand-Dad Bonded 6 out of 10, Ezra Brooks 99 5 out of 10
oak 5/5 oak: Old Grand-Dad Bonded 5 out of 10, Ezra Brooks 99 5 out of 10
nuttiness 5/5 nuttiness: Old Grand-Dad Bonded 5 out of 10, Ezra Brooks 99 5 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
The gap between these two is mostly about spice.
- Old Grand-Dad Bonded: A bonded 100-proof high-rye bourbon for the price of a mixer, and one of the great bargains on the shelf. Cleaner and less overwhelming than the 114 while keeping the peppery rye backbone.
- 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 Grand-Dad Bonded if you want a bonded, high-rye workhorse at mixer money.
- Go with Ezra Brooks 99 if you want a high-proof, nutty, caramel-forward everyday bourbon.
Best enjoyed neat, old-fashioned, cocktails (Old Grand-Dad Bonded); rocks, old-fashioned, cocktails (Ezra Brooks 99).