Ezra Brooks mashbill?

[Alden]

I've been drinking from the bottom shelf a lot lately 1. because I'm po' and 2. because I can't really tell much difference between a good economical bourbon and an expensive one. My pallet is just not that picky I guess.

So it's been 4 Roses yellow, or Evan Williams black, or Ancient Age most of the time, but recently I read a recommendation for Ezra Brooks. I got a bottle yesterday and just tasted it today.

Wow. It tastes a lot like Old Forester, Woodford Reserve, Weller, Maker's Mark, quite a bit like all of those better wheatie bourbons to me.

My question is, does anyone know if this is a high wheat bourbon, or is there some other reason it tastes this way?

[CorvallisCracker]

Hmm...Reply With Quote doesn't seem to be working...so I'll just have to fake it...

I can't really tell much difference between a good economical bourbon and an expensive one.

Many can't. Blind tastings are great for hubris reductions.

...recently I read a recommendation for Ezra Brooks. I got a bottle yesterday and just tasted it today.

Which expression?

It tastes a lot like Old Forester, Woodford Reserve, Weller, Maker's Mark, quite a bit like all of those better wheatie bourbons to me.

Old Forester and Woodford Reserve are not wheaters.

does anyone know if this is a high wheat bourbon

It's supposedly a rye bourbon.

or is there some other reason it tastes this way?

Maybe some barrels of Rebel Yell Reserve got misrouted to the Ezra bottling line.

[CorvallisCracker]

Edit isn't working either...

[Alden]

Hmmm... so I'm off the mark with my taste I guess, and also about Woodford and Old Forester being wheaters.

Maybe it's the fact that it's charcoal filtered?

[garbanzobean]

The general conspiracy theory is that Ezra Brooks is sourced from Heaven Hill, and is from a rye bourbon mashbill. While this is generally accepted as a fact, I personally haven't seen any proof. And just to reiterate, Old Forester and Woodford Reserve aren't wheated bourbons.

[Alden]

Rebel Yell Reserve? Never tried that one.

[garbanzobean]

Also, there's nothing wrong with po' man bourbon. A lot of it is really quite good.

[Alden]

garbanzo you are correct sir.

Like I said, I really can't taste a lot of difference, and I have had some of the top shelf bourbons in the past.

[CorvallisCracker]

Rebel Yell is Luxco's wheater (Luxco is the parent company for both Ezra and Rebel Yell).

Luxco used to be quite open about sourcing from HH. I believe it's a contract deal, which means the mash bills may vary from those used by HH for their own products. That may not be the case for RY, because it has the same ancestry as Weller, Old Fitz and Van Winkle (all were originally Stitzel-Weller products)

[Alden]

Oh, and the iteration is the most common stuff, black label, says 90 on it, but it's only 80 proof. Priced between $13-$16 around here where I live.

Walmart sells the Fambly Size for &18.60, which is a real good deal.

[Alden]

All right. I had a bit more of it tonight. I think what I am tasting is just more depth. Alongside what I have been drinking, this has more complexity, and it has a finish which reminds me of wheat, but probably isn't wheat.

AA has virtually no finish. It's a good simple young bourbon, but has no finish (that I can taste). EB has a nice smooth vanilla/oak finish to it.

[squire]

Like I said, I really can't taste a lot of difference, and I have had some of the top shelf bourbons in the past.

Most people can't no matter how many years they have been drinking Bourbon. Just the nature of things, it's the way we're made, exceptional palates are as rare as Arnold Palmer's golf swing. Experience will teach you how to spot deficiencies in an out of balance whisky or find the high notes in an exceptional one, but our basic likes and dislikes will remain unchanged so enjoy what you like irrespective of label, age or price.

[BourbonJoe]

Yes, it is a rye based bourbon, probably sourced from Heaven Hill.

[flahute]

Walmart sells the Family Size for &18.60, which is a real good deal.

[squire]

Yeah, I'm waiting for a clerk to ask if I want to Super Size my order.