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Russell’s Reserve 10 Year vs Ezra Brooks 99
Russell’s Reserve 10 Year and Ezra Brooks 99 sit on opposite sides of a familiar divide: an old-guard, rye-forward classic versus a sourced, classically built blend.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Russell’s Reserve 10 Year | Ezra Brooks 99 |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | Traditional Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 75% corn, 13% rye, 12% malted barley | 78% corn, 10% rye, 12% malted barley |
| Age | 10 years | No age statement |
| Proof | 90 proof (45% ABV) | 99 proof (49.5% ABV) +9 proof |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$40 – $50 | ~$22 – $28 ~$20 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
Russell’s Reserve 10 Year
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Ezra Brooks 99
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Russell’s Reserve 10 Year Ezra Brooks 99
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
oak 8/5 oak: Russell’s Reserve 10 Year 8 out of 10, Ezra Brooks 99 5 out of 10
spice 6/4 spice: Russell’s Reserve 10 Year 6 out of 10, Ezra Brooks 99 4 out of 10
fruit 4/2 fruit: Russell’s Reserve 10 Year 4 out of 10, Ezra Brooks 99 2 out of 10
nuttiness 3/5 nuttiness: Russell’s Reserve 10 Year 3 out of 10, Ezra Brooks 99 5 out of 10
heat 4/5 heat: Russell’s Reserve 10 Year 4 out of 10, Ezra Brooks 99 5 out of 10
sweetness 6/6 sweetness: Russell’s Reserve 10 Year 6 out of 10, Ezra Brooks 99 6 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Oak is doing most of the differentiating here.
- Russell’s Reserve 10 Year: Ten years of Wild Turkey at a restrained 90 proof, which trades the 101's punch for polish. More oak and more composure, and one of the better age-stated bottles at its price.
- 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 Russell’s Reserve 10 Year if you want an age-stated, oak-forward Wild Turkey with the volume turned down.
- Go with Ezra Brooks 99 if you want a high-proof, nutty, caramel-forward everyday bourbon at a lower price point.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks (Russell’s Reserve 10 Year); rocks, old-fashioned, cocktails (Ezra Brooks 99).