I'm just about at capacity in the whiskey study and therefore continuing with operation bottle kill in the Amongst household. This one is looking prime to be up next for the cause, so I figured I'd give it a proper tasting during it's send off. Keep in mind this bottle may be much more oxidized at time of review than a fresh pour. Anecdotally, this is where I think Old Ezra shines. I finished off my previous bottle of this around April 2021, so this bottle shouldn't be too bad. Let's get into it!
Company on Label: Lux Row Distillers
Whiskey Type: Bourbon
Mash Bill Percentages: 78% Corn, 10% Rye, and 12% Malted Barley
Proof: 117°
Age: 7 years
Further identification: The back label says distilled and aged in Kentucky (by an undisclosed distillery that's presumed to be Heaven Hill), and bottled for Lux Row Distillers
Nose: Sweet toffee forward, leading into indulgent caramel chews on first lifting the glass to my nose. Tobacco, herbal tea and pepper jump out immediately after. Dried pear is pretty unique here. Chocolate and peanut brittle build in some lovely complexity with aromas I thoroughly enjoy. It feels like a Beam product at it's heart. Building in spice as well as funky fruit now, I'm definitely starting to notice the proof creeping up in intensity. Raisin and cinnamon start to tingle and singe my nostrils as I yearn for a sip.
After going for one, buttery pecan pie fills the glass. There's a dry paper note that really reminds me of many Heaven Hill releases now. The nose is almost whiskey-nostalgic for me, reminding me of many of my first whiskey tasting and nosing experiences. Pecan pie really is the absolute best way to describe the overall experience of the nose on this glass. There's a touch of sandalwood at times. I'm impressed by how many layers this glass has, but many of them are a bit fleeting. The empty glass smells absolutely incredible with hot fudge drizzle, vanilla bean ice cream, graham cracker and a touch of honey. Where on earth were these aromas earlier?!
Palate: Yum! Immediately a rich caramel coats the tongue and then a wave of dark cherries and bitters undulates at a decent pace. Soft on the mouth feel, but with certain herbal and spice tones that threaten like they might bite yet they never do. Definitely a fruit forward profile that comes off low in intensity. It's like a sangria that's a little too watered down by ice to be really potent any longer. Plum, apricot and pecan drive the major profile of another sip. At times the cherry sweets can turn a little medicinal and spicy which is a bit harsh on the palate. This has a lot going on; it never really feels like this glass is sitting still. It's quite a high energy pour that I think I'd much rather enjoy with company than sipping solo for a review. I'm finding this a little too spicy, which is quite surprising for the fill level. The profile levels off by the end of the glass revealing pear, raw sugar and many layers of nutty cherry.
Rating: 3/5
This is a really decent 3 for me, but the flashes of spice are a bit much for most occasions I'd say. I've had great tastings of this and I've had just-decent tastings of this. Overall, I'm not sore having a bottle on hand, but it's not one I reach for regularly. When I do enjoy it I like to have a couple glasses. I actually think this would do wonders in my infinity bottle tonight, as I have been looking for a little bit of that spice kick in my blend. I think I'll add a pour next time I make room off the top!
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