Ezra Brooks 90 Proof Straight Rye

Appearance: This rye displays a lovely dark caramel hue. Its thin, quite viscous legs adhere to the glass, reminiscent of a creature gripping a spaceship. Nose: The aroma starts with a pleasant sweetness that soon yields to prominent notes of anise, brown sugar, and vanilla cookies. After a brief rest, hints of leather and the scent of a humid woodland emerge. A bit of water diminishes the complexity, introducing a duller, sweeter profile. Taste: The initial sip brings to mind chocolate malted milk balls, followed by notes of grain and cherry, concluding with warmth and spice. The whiskey possesses a substantial, oily texture, but the flavor, while starting strong, seems to fade and vanish. It's akin to an exciting slide that ends abruptly. (The use of charcoal filtering is an interesting choice, though it might have reduced some flavor.) Diluting with water, similar to the aroma, lessens the already limited variety, leaving only the characteristic rye spice. Finish: The finish begins with a brisk warmth, then smoothly transitions into a pleasant, medium-long conclusion with an almost malty character. Thoughts: Based on my tasting, this is a very good rye and whiskey overall. Its elevated proof serves it well, and adding water truly makes it bland. While the palate could benefit from more excitement, it's an outstanding value. I endorse it and would happily purchase it again. Appreciate the quality spirits from this producer! Salud!

With the rye craze just starting, affordable bottom-shelf ryes are scarce. A quick check shows only three well-regarded ryes under $20 at a large liquor store: this one, WT 81 proof, and Old Overholt. While I haven't tried the others, the 90 proof of this offering distinguishes it positively from the other two. It's 24 months old and sourced from MGP, which is fine. Ignore claims that the mashbill is 95% rye; it's 51% rye. Nose: Abundant mint and green herbs, with strong ethanol and a trace of sweetness. Palate: A good rye spice hits the tongue, and surprisingly for a 2-year-old spirit, there's no clear ethanol burn. Sweet, tangy fruit like cherry and peach appear without much caramel or vanilla. The rye aspect of the mashbill is evident, with minimal traditional barrel influence. Some pepper and cinnamon are also present. Finish: Tangy rye, not quite bitter, but it's drying and herbaceous. Hints of spice and a tiny bit of fleeting vanilla. Conclusion: This is pleasant for $15. It's not as good as the even cheaper and tastier Ezra Brooks bourbon. However, compared to other whiskies (rye and bourbon) under $15, it holds its own with the best (OGD 100, EW BiB, VOB 100, etc.) in terms of quality. Since there aren't many other cheap ryes, direct comparisons are difficult. But as an inexpensive, barely-legal rye, it delivers more than expected for a bottom-shelf whiskey. I'm not a big rye drinker and don't have a refined rye palate, so I can't confidently award that last quarter star. It's a definite buy for parties or gifts, though perhaps not for a collection.

Served neat in a glencairn. The color is golden yellow-orange, with surprising thickness and some legs. The aroma confirms the 51% rye + high corn mash (the entry is incorrect; it's not LDI rye, but one of the newer MGP rye bills). It's gentle and sweet, with prominent apple juice, a touch of maple syrup, some dry cereal grain husks, and dried chili pepper. Herbal notes linger on the edge. It's mild but inviting. The taste is a bit more assertive and bold initially, but not harsh, then settles nicely with a lingering sweetness. It feels creamy yet subdued on the tongue, with flavors emerging after swallowing. A few wisps and a flash of heat appear far in the back, followed by caramelized sugar, honey, and a hint of bitter grapefruit rind. Stewed apples are present. It surprisingly reminded me of some blended Scotches, though with a few elements amplified significantly (this is a young rye, after all, and undeniably American, despite my attempt to make a point with a reference to a British metal band). I enjoy this. It cost me $11. I really like this for $11. Kudos to Lux Row & MGP. Rittenhouse, Sazerac, or Old Forester Rye offer slight improvements, mainly in complexity and a bit of proof, but they cost an extra $10 to $20. I prefer this to more bottles in the $30-$40 range (that I own!) than I care to admit. It's an easy contender for great value at that price point.

I had heard this was a hidden gem and finally decided to purchase a bottle to see for myself. This was tasted neat from a glencairn. The nose is classic rye whiskey, reminiscent of a Christmas fruitcake. There's some cherry, a little pine, a touch of dill, the slightest hint of mint, and a faint note of ethanol. On the palate, it's quite restrained but has several discernible, subtle flavors, typical of a rye. They can be very fruity, and this one fits that description. There is the aforementioned dill, rye, some spice, a bit of cherry, and a touch of menthol. This is a 90 proof whiskey, so it's quite approachable and drinks even lighter. It's quite tame but nicely flavored. I'm astonished at how good it is considering its price is under $13 a bottle in my local market. I'm going to recommend it based on value for money alone, but this could hold its own as a reasonably good rye against almost any of the popular mixers that sell for nearly twice the price. I made a Butchertown cocktail with this, and it was quite tasty. The rye held up well against the Amontillado and Cointreau. This is a bargain mixer and good enough to enjoy on its own as a sipper.

I had some funds remaining on a gift card, but not enough for a mid-priced bottle after shipping and taxes. So, I searched within a limited price range and consulted reviews for the few options available. Ezra Brooks Straight Rye emerged as the choice... As I've gained a bit more expertise in spirits, I can at least gauge the age of a whiskey. This rye is 2 years old, and it tastes like it. It's quite young, with a light golden color. Not a lot is happening, but it's not terrible by any means. It's sweeter than I'd anticipate from a young rye, and, as expected, it has spice. Earlier this evening, I was with colleagues and had Rabbit Hole Rye, which is one of my favorite ryes so far. The contrast between the two is stark. I don't intend to criticize this spirit. It's simply one of those, "not bad, not great" pours. For the cost, I'd classify it as "good." You could do worse if you're on a tight budget but need a decent sipper. I won't purchase it again, but I would drink it if offered.

Nose: Offers notes of rye bread, dill, black licorice, clove, and with a bit of imagination, a whisper of vanilla. When neat: it's salty and savory, with mild oak dryness, a burst of black pepper heat, and if you concentrate, a faint trace of vanilla. The finish is a bit dry, leaving a persistent coating of that black pepper spice. Despite the lingering finish, the texture feels rather light. With a splash: introduces a bit of sweetness and smooths out the spice intensity in the middle. My conclusion? This spirit requires additional aging to develop more sweetness. While I'm not usually enthusiastic about MGP's 95/5 ryes, I do appreciate a few of them (like Bulleit, Dickel, and James Pepper). This particular one is only kept from a two-star rating by its price below $20. I believe it will work well as a mixer. If I'm looking for a 95/5 rye for sipping neat, I'd spend an additional $5-$10 for the Dickel, Pepper, or Bulleit... or just grab a bottle of Rittenhouse.