Ezra Brooks 7 yo (2017), Old Ezra Single Barrel – Straight Rye Whiskey, 57%

Introduction

Old Ezra Single Barrel is part of the acclaimed Ezra Brooks series from Lux Row Distillers in Kentucky – a distillery dedicated to artisanal quality and respect for American whiskey traditions. This exceptional single barrel release is a testament to what patience and careful selection can produce: a characterful, rich rye whiskey shaped by nearly eight years in new American oak.

Production Method

• Ingredients: Lux Row’s rye whiskey mash bill consists of 51% rye, 45% corn, and 4% malted barley – a composition that balances rye’s distinctive spiciness with corn’s natural sweetness and barley’s fermentation properties.
• Distillation Process: The whiskey is distilled at Lux Row Distillers in Kentucky in accordance with the strict requirements for straight rye whiskey, including distillation to a maximum of 80% ABV and entry into the barrel at a maximum of 62.5% ABV.
• Maturation: The whiskey was barrelled on 9 September 2017 and matured for nearly eight years in a virgin American oak cask – the only permitted cask type for straight rye whiskey in the United States. Maturation took place under Kentucky’s dramatic temperature fluctuations, which promote extraction and complexity.
• Special Techniques: The whiskey is bottled as a single barrel expression, drawn directly from one individual cask without blending, and bottled at full cask strength of 57% ABV without dilution – preserving the raw and authentic character the barrel has developed over the years.

Tasting Notes

• Nose: Nougat, coconut, and vanilla open up an inviting and sweetly rounded bouquet, complemented by distinct oak notes and a playful hint of fruit gummies – fruity and characterful.
• Palate: Warm spices come forward immediately, paving the way for toasted coconut and salted peanuts, which add a pleasant nutty depth. A soft and lingering vanilla binds the elements together beautifully, reflecting the many years spent in new oak.
• Finish: Long and warming finish with gentle notes of charred wood that enhance the overall complexity. The alcohol from the natural cask strength contributes a pleasant and lasting warmth that lingers for several minutes after the final sip.

Serving Suggestions

• Serving Temperature: Room temperature, approximately 18–20°C, to ensure the best balance between alcohol and aromas.
• Glassware: A Glencairn glass or a tulip-shaped nosing glass is recommended, as the shape concentrates the aromas and highlights the whiskey’s complex aromatic profile.
• Serving Ideas: Enjoy neat to experience the full cask strength and complexity, or add a single ice cube or a few drops of water to open the whiskey further and soften the alcohol slightly.
• Food Pairings: Pairs excellently with dark chocolate and nut confections, salted caramel, smoked cheese, or hearty dishes such as pulled pork and BBQ – the spice and sweetness of the flavour profile complement both directions beautifully.

Product Specifications

• Alcohol Content: 57% ABV (cask strength)
• Bottle Size: 70 cl
• Country/Region of Origin: USA, Kentucky – Lux Row Distillers
• Certifications/Awards: Classified as “Straight Rye Whiskey” in accordance with the strict American legal requirements for this category; bottled as an undiluted single barrel release.

Summary

A Unique Tasting Experience

Old Ezra Single Barrel is not simply a whiskey to be drunk – it is an experience that unfolds slowly, rewarding the patient enthusiast with layer upon layer of complexity that only nearly eight years in virgin American oak can create.

This bottle represents the contents of one single, unique cask, and once it is gone, it is gone forever – a single barrel release can, by definition, never be exactly replicated.

Lux Row Distillers is a respected Kentucky distillery with deep roots in American whiskey tradition, and the Old Ezra series stands as one of the clearest demonstrations of the distillery’s ability to craft whiskeys of genuine depth and personality.

Recognition Among Connoisseurs

Straight rye whiskey at cask strength is sought after by whiskey enthusiasts worldwide, precisely because it offers the most direct and honest access to what the barrel and the distillery have created over time – and Old Ezra Single Barrel lives up to that expectation in every way.

Once you have tasted a rye whiskey of this calibre – with its lingering finish, full mouthfeel, and balanced spiciness – it becomes difficult to look back; the standard has been set.

The extended maturation, the carefully selected ingredients, and the uncompromising decision to bottle at full cask strength make this whiskey both a collector’s item and a tasting experience that connoisseurs return to time and again.

From Lux Row Distillers to You

Behind this bottle lies nearly eight years of patience, care, and respect for the craft – Lux Row Distillers waited for exactly the right moment to draw from this cask, and the result is a whiskey that speaks for itself.

There is something special about a whiskey with a precise birthday: on 9 September 2017, a journey began in new oak that is now ready to continue in your glass – and that kind of story makes every tasting all the more meaningful.

Seize the opportunity to experience Old Ezra Single Barrel while it is available, and let this unfiltered, cask-strength rye whiskey from Kentucky remind you of what time, ingredients, and craftsmanship are capable of creating together.