Old Ezra 7 Year Old Barrel Strength
In my review and tasting notes for Wild Turkey Rare Breed 116.8 Proof, I called that pour the best barrel-strength value on the market, also referencing Elijah Craig Barrel Proof as a close competitor. Apologies to Lux Co - Old Ezra 7 has to be in that mix as well. At $40 MSRP and 117 proof, this easily stands up neat, mixed, on ice, any way you want it.
Lux Row - the distilling arm of Lux Co. - began distilling their own spirit in April 2018, celebrating the occasion with a special 12-year-old double-barrel bourbon. Before then, they contract distilled from Heaven Hill - thus, this bottle and any bottles likely to come out in the next few years are Lux Row distilled at Heaven Hill.
Now - this is a case of contract distilling, not sourcing. Sourcing means another distiller distilled spirit to their specifications and, at some point between distillation and bottling, another company purchased the liquid/barrels and eventually sold it under their own label.
Contract distilling, on the other hand, means that a company - Lux Row, in this case - was using another distillery’s equipment but otherwise making their own product. Lux Row has their own rickhouses, their own barrel sourcing agreements, and their own style - nobody can call this a Heaven Hill product.
I’m curious to see how the new Lux Row distillate ages and tastes in a few years. My hope is that they do everything they can to duplicate the success they’re already having - the Old Ezra 7, Ezra Brooks, and David Nicholson are all solid products not in need of revamping.
A note on the label - normally, when you hear “charcoal mellowed” you think of the Tennessee Whiskey/Lincoln County Process used by Jack Daniel’s (and others). The reality is that many companies - in Tennessee, Kentucky, and elsewhere - use charcoal “mellowing” on their whiskey. Does it “mellow” anything? Does it add or subtract flavor? Hard to tell without a non-”mellowed” comparison - Lux Row, if you want to send a sample of non-charcoal-mellowed Old Ezra 7-year-old, my mailbox is always open!
A final note: just weeks before these notes were posted, MGP and Lux Co. announced a huge merger about which details are still coming. It’s a great match - MGP has massive stocks but hasn’t had much success marketing its own brands (George Remus is a minor exception); Lux Co. has a ways to go with whiskey stocks, but its brands are by and large quite successful. Both parties stand to benefit, and I can’t wait to see where this merger goes.
Old Ezra 7 Year Old: Specs
Classification: American Bourbon
Origin: Lux Row Distillers (Sourced from Heaven Hill)
Mashbill: 78% Corn, 10% Rye, and 12% Malted Barley
Proof: 117 (58.5% ABV)
Age: 7 Years Old
Location: Kentucky
Old Ezra 7 Year Old Price: $40 (MSRP)
Old Ezra 7 Year Old Review: Tasting Notes
Eye: Amber, thin rim and thin legs.
Nose: A tight nose. Hints of baked goods, proof comes out after some air.
Palate: Smooth, fruity (dark red fruits). Tingly on the tongue with red fruit building. Proof heat is present but doesn’t overpower. Moderate body coats the mouth.
Finish: Long, with the red fruits going from fresh to dried with a slight numbing. Caramel and cocoa come out with wood char, too.
Overall: A fruity bourbon that would be better with a stronger nose. Reminds me of a good Four Roses pick. Nose is just ok but the palate and finish are great.
Final Rating: 7.1
10 | Insurpassable | Nothing Else Comes Close (Blanton’s Straight from the Barrel)
9 | Incredible | Extraordinary (GTS, Elijah Craig Barrel Proof B518 and B520)
8 | Excellent | Exceptional (12+YO MGP Bourbon, Highland Park Single Barrels)
7 | Great | Well above average (Blanton’s Original, Old Weller Antique, Booker’s)
6 | Very Good | Better than average (Four Roses Small Batch Select, Knob Creek 14+ YO Picks)
5 | Good | Good, solid, ordinary (Elijah Craig Small Batch, Buffalo Trace, Old Grand-Dad Bottled-in-Bond)
4 | Sub-par | Many things I’d rather have (A.D. Laws Four Grain, Compass Box “Oak Cross”)
3 | Bad | Flawed (Iron Smoke Bourbon, Balcones)
2 | Poor | Forced myself to drink it (Buckshee Bourbon and Rye)
1 | Disgusting | Drain pour (Virginia Distilling Co. Cider Cask)
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