Ezra Brooks 99 Port Wine Cask Finish Bourbon Whiskey
Ezra Brooks 99 Port Wine Cask Finish Bourbon Whiskey is a 99 proof (49.5% ABV), 750mL Kentucky straight bourbon whiskey — Ezra Brooks' bold 99 proof bourbon finished for six months in port wine casks from Portugal, layering dark fruit sweetness over its spicy ryed character. It is available to order online at Del Mesa Liquor, San Diego, CA.
- ABV: 49.5% (99 proof)
- Size: 750mL
- Style: Kentucky straight bourbon whiskey, port cask finished
- Mash bill: 78% corn, 10% rye, 12% malt
- Finish: Six months in port wine casks from Portugal
- Series: First release in Ezra Brooks 99's planned annual cask-finish series
- Master Distiller: John Rempe
- Distillery: Lux Row Distillers, Bardstown, Kentucky
A Ryed Bourbon Meets Portuguese Port Casks
Ezra Brooks 99 is the brand's bolder bottling — a 99 proof Kentucky straight bourbon built on a ryed mash bill of 78% corn, 10% rye and 12% malt. For this release, Lux Row Master Distiller John Rempe was intrigued by the juxtaposition of that spicy ryed profile against the sweeter, dark fruit notes of port wine, so the finished bourbon rested a further six months in port casks shipped from Portugal. Announced in April 2024 as the first in a planned series of annual finishes for the 99 family, it wears its finish openly — a special label colour calls out the port casks on the bottle. Browse the Ezra Brooks collection, more bourbon whiskey, and the full whisky shelves at Del Mesa.
Tasting Notes
Master Distiller John Rempe's notes for the release: vanilla, tobacco and leather in harmony on the nose, and on the palate the port cask's sweet fruitiness alongside dark chocolate — the bourbon's rye spice running underneath the wine-cask fruit from first sip to finish.
How to Enjoy
Pour it neat or with a single cube and let the port fruit open over the spice. At 99 proof it also stands up in spirit-forward cocktails — a Manhattan built on it picks up a dark-fruit depth a standard bourbon cannot give.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long is Ezra Brooks 99 Port Wine Cask Finish finished in port casks? Six months, in port wine casks from Portugal, after the bourbon's standard ageing at Lux Row Distillers in Bardstown, Kentucky.
What is the mash bill of Ezra Brooks 99? 78% corn, 10% rye and 12% malt — a ryed bourbon mash, which is what gives the base whiskey the spicy profile the port finish plays against.
What proof is Ezra Brooks 99 Port Wine Cask Finish? 99 proof (49.5% ABV), in a 750mL bottle — the same bold proof as the standard Ezra Brooks 99.
Who makes Ezra Brooks bourbon? Lux Row Distillers in Bardstown, Kentucky, under Master Distiller John Rempe.
Six months in Portuguese port casks over a spicy 99 proof bourbon — get Ezra Brooks 99 Port Wine Cask Finish at Del Mesa Liquor, San Diego, CA.