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Willett Pot Still Reserve vs Ezra Brooks 99
Willett Pot Still Reserve and Ezra Brooks 99 are cut from similar cloth: two takes on traditional bourbons, where the real difference is price (~$45 – $60 vs. ~$22 – $28).
Key Specifications
| Feature | Willett Pot Still Reserve | Ezra Brooks 99 |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Traditional Bourbon | Traditional Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | Not disclosed | 78% corn, 10% rye, 12% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | No age statement |
| Proof | 94 proof (47% ABV) | 99 proof (49.5% ABV) +5 proof |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$45 – $60 | ~$22 – $28 ~$28 less |
- Willett Pot Still Reserve and Ezra Brooks 99 do not publish an official mash bill.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
Willett Pot Still Reserve
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Ezra Brooks 99
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Willett Pot Still Reserve Ezra Brooks 99
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
fruit 6/2 fruit: Willett Pot Still Reserve 6 out of 10, Ezra Brooks 99 2 out of 10
sweetness 7/6 sweetness: Willett Pot Still Reserve 7 out of 10, Ezra Brooks 99 6 out of 10
spice 5/4 spice: Willett Pot Still Reserve 5 out of 10, Ezra Brooks 99 4 out of 10
oak 6/5 oak: Willett Pot Still Reserve 6 out of 10, Ezra Brooks 99 5 out of 10
heat 4/5 heat: Willett Pot Still Reserve 4 out of 10, Ezra Brooks 99 5 out of 10
nuttiness 4/5 nuttiness: Willett Pot Still Reserve 4 out of 10, Ezra Brooks 99 5 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Fruit character is what sets these apart.
- Willett Pot Still Reserve: Famous first for the pot-still-shaped decanter and second for the whiskey, which is a fair ordering. Pleasant, sweet and fruit-leaning, with a good deal of the price attached to the glass.
- 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 Willett Pot Still Reserve if you want a distinctive bottle on the shelf and an easy, fruit-forward pour inside 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, rocks (Willett Pot Still Reserve); rocks, old-fashioned, cocktails (Ezra Brooks 99).