Compare
Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond vs Ezra Brooks 99
Comparing Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond and Ezra Brooks 99 is a closer contest than it looks — both are traditional bourbons, separated mainly by price (~$16 – $22 vs. ~$22 – $28).
Key Specifications
| Feature | Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond | Ezra Brooks 99 |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Traditional Bourbon | Traditional Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | Not disclosed | 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 | ~$16 – $22 ~$6 less | ~$22 – $28 |
- Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond and Ezra Brooks 99 do not publish an official mash bill.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
Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Ezra Brooks 99
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond Ezra Brooks 99
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
fruit 4/2 fruit: Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond 4 out of 10, Ezra Brooks 99 2 out of 10
spice 5/4 spice: Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond 5 out of 10, Ezra Brooks 99 4 out of 10
nuttiness 4/5 nuttiness: Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond 4 out of 10, Ezra Brooks 99 5 out of 10
sweetness 6/6 sweetness: Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond 6 out of 10, Ezra Brooks 99 6 out of 10
oak 5/5 oak: Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond 5 out of 10, Ezra Brooks 99 5 out of 10
heat 5/5 heat: Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond 5 out of 10, Ezra Brooks 99 5 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
The fruit-versus-grain contrast drives this one.
- Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond: A bonded 100-proof bourbon at a price that barely seems possible, though distribution is patchy outside Kentucky. Unremarkable in the best way: it does everything a bourbon should and nothing extra.
- 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 Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond if you want a bonded Kentucky bourbon for under twenty dollars, if you can find it in your state.
- Go with Ezra Brooks 99 if you want a high-proof, nutty, caramel-forward everyday bourbon.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks, old-fashioned, cocktails (Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond); rocks, old-fashioned, cocktails (Ezra Brooks 99).