Ezra Brooks Straight Rye Whiskey

In January 2017, Ezra Brooks launched this new whiskey into it's product lineup. Ezra Brooks Straight Rye is distilled in Indiana at MGP with a mashbill containing 95% rye and 5% barley. It's parent company, Luxco, recently went all in on refining the appearance of Ezra Brooks whiskey in an effort to push a premium brand ideology. For what it's worth, the matte-finish label is a really, really nice touch!  

Details:

-90 proof

-2 years old

-Price: $19

Nose: Light and crisp. Red apples, pound cake, and caramel conjure a semi sweet aroma. Heavy dough notes, as if you've stepped into a bakery and smell all the rising bread. Underneath this lays a gentle spice.

Taste: Silky smooth with a thin layer of rye spice and cinnamon. It’s a very soft and clean whiskey on the palate, with apples, bread, vanilla, and caramel.

Finish: Short with a sweetened, gentle spice.

Conclusion: Ezra Brooks Rye is a soft whiskey with an intriguing amount of complexity; it's only 2 years old, yet I’m surprised by the array of flavor, albeit subtle. Compared to the Ezra Brooks 7 year, 101 proof bourbon for $16 (which in my opinion, is the very best bang-for-your-buck bourbon available), this doesn't quite compete. This is a perfect "drink it neat at the end of the night whiskey", after you've exhausted your taste buds with other high end or barrel proof bourbon.

My Rating: C (Decent)