Ezra B Single Barrel 12 Year Old Bourbon Whiskey (750ml)

We've just received a small parcel of the older, single barrel brother of Ezra Brooks. This 12 year old is owned by Luxco (whose well-known brand in Australia is 'Rebel Yell') but contract distilled by Heaven Hill and comes handsomely packaged with ribbon tie and wax seal. There are several very negative reviews of this whiskey on the blogosphere which upon tasting seem unjustified.

Tasting note: Bright polished copper. Wood heavy nose with scents of fresh sawn American oak, polished floorboards, white pepper and light vanilla. Medium to full-bodied with vanilla bean, sweet corn and milk chocolate flavours and a peppery, mildly tannic, woody, cigar box and tingling caramel finish. Oaky but not out of balance. An affable mainstream style. 49.5% Alc./Vol.

Other reviews... Some single barrel bourbon from Heaven Hill. I’m really curious about this one, since I never tried any Ezra Brooks… Colour: deep gold. Nose: I’m tempted to write that this is much more commercial. You know, caramel, butter cream, fudge, vanilla, butterscotch maple syrup, and the largest bag of buttered popcorn ever. I may have used the word ‘butter’ a little too often. Mouth: powerful, but a little indistinct. Sweet oak, vanilla, toasts, cakes, corn syrup, molasses, vanilla, Starbucks’ best (I mean, worst)… Bwah bwah bwah… Finish: medium, with some molasses-covered vanilla cake and a slice of cinnamon cake. Comments: good bourbon, but I feel it’s uninspired and uninspiring. It’s really lacking the edges and asperities that the ‘crafts’ had, but yeah, it’s very good, most certainly. 80 points
- Serge Valentin, www.whiskyfun.com