Compare
W.L. Weller Special Reserve vs Ezra Brooks 99
W.L. Weller Special Reserve and Ezra Brooks 99 sit on opposite sides of a familiar divide: an old-guard, wheat-forward classic versus a sourced, classically built blend.
Key Specifications
| Feature | W.L. Weller Special Reserve | Ezra Brooks 99 |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Wheated Bourbon | Traditional Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | Not disclosed | 78% corn, 10% rye, 12% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | No age statement |
| Proof | 90 proof (45% ABV) | 99 proof (49.5% ABV) +9 proof |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$30 – $60 | ~$22 – $28 ~$20 less |
| Availability | Allocated | Widely available easier to find |
- W.L. Weller Special Reserve and Ezra Brooks 99 do not publish an official mash bill.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
W.L. Weller Special Reserve
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Ezra Brooks 99
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
W.L. Weller Special Reserve Ezra Brooks 99
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
fruit 5/2 fruit: W.L. Weller Special Reserve 5 out of 10, Ezra Brooks 99 2 out of 10
spice 2/4 spice: W.L. Weller Special Reserve 2 out of 10, Ezra Brooks 99 4 out of 10
heat 3/5 heat: W.L. Weller Special Reserve 3 out of 10, Ezra Brooks 99 5 out of 10
nuttiness 3/5 nuttiness: W.L. Weller Special Reserve 3 out of 10, Ezra Brooks 99 5 out of 10
sweetness 7/6 sweetness: W.L. Weller Special Reserve 7 out of 10, Ezra Brooks 99 6 out of 10
oak 4/5 oak: W.L. Weller Special Reserve 4 out of 10, Ezra Brooks 99 5 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
The fruit-versus-grain contrast drives this one.
- W.L. Weller Special Reserve: The entry point to the Weller line and an easy introduction to wheated bourbon. Soft honey and vanilla with almost no rye bite, a bread-dough body, and a short, sweet finish that asks nothing of you.
- 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 W.L. Weller Special Reserve if you want the softest, sweetest, most approachable wheated pour of the group.
- Go with Ezra Brooks 99 if you want a high-proof, nutty, caramel-forward everyday bourbon at a lower price point and without hunting for it.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks, highball (W.L. Weller Special Reserve); rocks, old-fashioned, cocktails (Ezra Brooks 99).