Old Ezra 7 Year Barrel Strength Bourbon

The nose is gentle and sweet, featuring vanilla, caramel, honey, and a hint of crème brûlée. Based on the aroma alone, you wouldn't suspect it's 117 proof. However, the first sip quickly and powerfully reminds you, first assaulting your tongue and then your sinuses with a rush of hot cinnamon and burning menthol. A Norlan glass offers some improvement, but not as much as desired. The palate is merely average…your vanilla and caramel are interacting pleasantly, awaiting the sugar and spice to join when the bold cinnamon and oak twins disrupt the gathering, causing such a commotion that everyone else departs. The ending is abrupt, with only astringent heat remaining. What a shame. Even with added water, it remains somewhat hot, but the palate becomes manageable enough to detect some bubble gum and cooking spices before it again fades to cinnamon and slightly less pronounced wood. If this were 4 years old and priced at $40, I would be more accepting. At 7 years and $70, it competes with Knob Creek 120, Jack Daniel’s SBBP, Elijah Craig BP, and Maker’s Mark CS. While many of these offer different flavor profiles, that's precisely my point; they aren't just hotter, older versions of a standard offering that contribute only the most basic bourbon flavors…through careful cask management, no filtering, or simply not adding water, they provide an experience far removed from the standard bottling, and this one simply doesn't.

Color: Medium Copper-Amber Aroma: Potent aroma that matches the proof. Sweet with notes of leather, brown sugar, molasses, and barrel char. This is my preferred type of aroma. It reminds me of various Barrel Proof spirits I've had. Palate: (Consumed with a large ice ball) A significant wave of spice and heat on the initial sip. Wow! The warmth spreads to the chest quickly. Okay, now I understand what the aroma was hinting at – this reminds me of virtually every Booker's I've tried. It took me one sip to realize that. This is spicy stuff... it makes your tongue tingle. There's sweetness present as well, but 'spicy' is the dominant characteristic. I try to avoid using subjective terms in my reviews, but... I consider this a 'powerful' bourbon. It has impact, but at the right intensity. It's the kind that would be ideal for casual sipping with companions around a fire. Drinking this with ice – as I typically do with spirits of this proof – really brings out the subtle nuances. As the ice melts, a citrus peel/orange note emerges. Nice! Finish: Moderate with lingering spice and oak. Concluding Thoughts: Alright! I've been considering this bottle for some time. I had a feeling I would enjoy it, and I was correct. An excellent alternative for Booker's enthusiasts who prefer not to spend $90.00 - $129.00. I will definitely purchase this again. All things considered, 4.5 stars. Well done, Luxco.

One bottle, two reviews – the previous one was over three years ago (6/22/22). There won't be a third anytime soon as my current (and only) bottle was finished tonight. The aroma is compelling and quite sweet, with notes of pipe tobacco, cinnamon jawbreaker candy, chocolate-covered cherries, marzipan, and pomander. There's also a dusty note reminiscent of Wild Turkey. Sweetness continues on the palate with more pipe tobacco, followed by sawdusty woody tannins, and a medium-length finish highlighted by cocoa, burnt sugar, and espresso. I've had this bottle for a few years and don't recall the price I paid. It took me several years to finish it, which is telling. It feels a bit disjointed. There's a lot of sweetness, but also a significant amount of those sawdust tannins, and it drinks hotter than its 117 proof. Old Ezra 7 Year Barrel Strength can be found for $60-70. This compares to Larceny Barrel Proof, which typically has a higher proof, and is smoother and better. It's priced slightly higher on average than Wild Turkey Rare Breed, which has a similar proof but is aged longer (a blend of 6-, 8-, and 12-year-olds). Would I buy it again? I'd seek out many others before trying this one again – but I do want to try it.

I'm not very familiar with Ezra Brooks' bourbon offerings, but a good friend suggested I try Old Ezra if I had the opportunity. Given its accessible cost and barrel strength impact, I figured I had little to lose! A very classic barrel strength bourbon aroma. Toasted oak, vanilla, and brown sugar are present, with a hint of cherries and baking spice on the finish. What an intriguing flavor profile! It begins quite sweet with caramel, which then evolves into sweet and tart cherries before baking spices and dry oak join the mix. I feel the alcohol content causes that drier, tannic oak to push the other flavors off the palate a bit too fast, but it's still enjoyable. The finish remains on the dry and spicy side. A quick note of leather mingles with the oak and baking spice. The proof does cause a slight tingle on your tongue, but it's not unpleasant. The finish isn't as long, rich, or full-bodied as I had hoped, but as the flavors fade, a trace of vanilla lingers briefly. Inhaling through your mouth will make it more apparent. For a budget-friendly barrel strength bourbon, this is a solid choice!

It's a chilly afternoon here and I just returned from a brisk walk. There's about an ounce left in this bottle, opened roughly a year ago. I poured it an hour ago and have been smelling it. The aroma is fantastic and can be detected from across the room. Vanilla and oak dominate, but a subtle cherry note emerges. Initially, the alcohol is quite prominent but it mellows after a few minutes. The taste is a little intense, which is perfect for winter. It features maple and brown sugar, along with some malty chocolate. It delivers classic bourbon flavors but isn't overly complex. It's not quite as rich as I'd prefer for its strength. The finish is remarkable. It's long-lasting with notes of bing cherry and caramel. It leaves the mouth feeling dry but encourages another sip. Adding a cube of ice brings caramel into the aroma. The palate becomes more oak-forward, and the finish shortens. I enjoy this one, and it delivers well for its cost. It's difficult to find in my area, except at the distillery where it now costs $90. At that price, I can find superior options.

Appears as liquid amber. The aroma is sweet, with notes of caramel, oranges, apple pie, oak, leather, and vanilla. In contrast to the Knob Creek 12-Year Small Batch I tasted just before, and despite its significantly higher proof (117 vs. KC12 at 100), Old Ezra feels balanced on the palate and is not nearly as fiery. While the KC12's palate was mostly heat, the Old Ezra offers distinct flavors of caramel and pipe tobacco before presenting cinnamon red hots. It finishes with a pleasant sweet vanilla and a hint of orange. This bottle is about two-thirds empty; I haven't had any in several months. Although I didn't take explicit notes previously, I remember liking it, but not loving it. Tonight, I'm loving it; this might also be a reflection of the KC12's bitterness and lack of cohesion that came before it. As I recall, I bought my two bottles in West Virginia a few years ago. I will definitely look to restock when this supply runs low. Note: All spirits were tasted neat in a Glencairn glass.