Old Ezra 7 years Full Proof Straight Rye Whiskey USA 57%

A green label, a little gold foil and not one word too many. Behind the quiet packaging sit seven summers in fresh charred oak and a bottling that never met a drop of water. Old Ezra comes out of Lawrenceburg, Indiana — a river town once known as Whiskey City, because nobody else in America handled rye quite like this.

The Expert's Description

Old Ezra 7 years Full Proof is an American Straight Rye Whiskey matured for seven years in new charred American oak casks and bottled at 57%.

It arrived in November 2022 as the rye counterpart to Old Ezra 7 years Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, which had just been named Best Overall Bourbon at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition that same year. Old Ezra is the heavyweight branch of the Ezra Brooks family, and this was the first rye ever released under the name.

The whiskey is distilled and matured in Indiana at Ross & Squibb Distillery — the plant formerly known as MGP — and bottled by Lux Row Distillers in Bardstown, Kentucky. It says so in small print at the bottom of the label, and it is worth reading. Lawrenceburg has been distilling rye since 1847 and still supplies rye spirit to a sizeable slice of the American whiskey trade.

Two mashbills are married together here. One is built on 95% rye and 5% malted barley, and it carries the sharp, peppery rye edge. The other runs 51% rye, 45% corn and 4% malted barley, laying sweetness and body underneath. Between them they explain why the whiskey tastes unmistakably of rye while still coming across rounder than most people expect at this strength.

The casks are new and charred, exactly as the law demands of a Straight Rye Whiskey. Seven Indiana summers pull vanilla, caramel and dry oak spice out of that burnt layer, and because the whiskey goes into the bottle at cask strength, none of it gets diluted away again. Before bottling the spirit is charcoal filtered, the same treatment the whole Ezra Brooks range receives, which takes the roughest corner off without flattening the whiskey. Gold at both ASCOT and SIP in 2024.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Dry oak and earthy rye spice lead. Then it loosens up: caramel, vanilla, a hint of dark cherry. Give it a quarter of an hour in the glass and tobacco and old leather come forward.

Palate

Spiced honey and toffee arrive first, soft and thick. Then the rye asserts itself properly with black pepper, cinnamon and a sharp streak of orange peel. The 57% is clearly there, but it warms rather than burns.

Finish

Long and dry. Oak, pipe tobacco and a peppery heat that sits around well after the glass is empty.

Specifications

Name: Old Ezra 7 years Full Proof Straight Rye Whiskey
Distillery: Ross & Squibb Distillery
Bottler: Lux Row Distillers
Region/Country: Indiana, USA
Type: Straight Rye Whiskey
Age: 7 years
ABV: 57%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: New charred American oak casks
Natural colour: Yes
Edition: Full Proof
EAN no.: 0088352139449

Flavour Profile

Spicy · Vanilla · Caramel · Oak · Tobacco · Cask strength

Did You Know?

The Squibb half of Ross & Squibb comes from William Squibb's distillery of 1869. In 1921 it was bought by George Remus, the bootlegger they called the King of the Bootleggers, and one of the figures F. Scott Fitzgerald is said to have had in mind when he wrote The Great Gatsby.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Old Ezra 7 years Full Proof Straight Rye Whiskey

What does Full Proof mean on the label?

Full Proof means the whiskey is bottled at the strength it came out of the cask, with no water added. That is why it lands at 57%, and that is why the flavour is so concentrated. On American labels you will see the same idea written as barrel proof or cask strength.

What does Old Ezra 7 years Full Proof taste like?

Spiced honey, caramel and vanilla with a clear peppery rye edge and tobacco on the finish. Seven years in new charred oak give it more sweetness and body than most people associate with rye, while the high strength keeps the spice sharp all the way through.

Should I add water?

Try it neat first, then add a couple of drops. At 57% a few drops usually open up more fruit and vanilla while the rye spice steps back. There is no correct answer here — add a little, taste, add more if you want to.

Why does this rye taste sweeter than other rye whiskeys?

Because two mashbills are blended. Alongside the sharp 95% rye recipe sits one with 45% corn, and the corn brings that rounded sweetness. The spirit is also charcoal filtered before bottling, which softens the hardest edges.

Does it work in cocktails?

Yes, and particularly in the classics. An Old Fashioned or a Manhattan built on a 57% rye does not get drowned by sugar, bitters and vermouth the way milder whiskeys often do. You can comfortably pour less than you would with a standard 45% rye.

Which glass should I use?

A tulip-shaped glass such as a Glencairn gathers the aromas best at this strength. A wide tumbler lets too much of the nose escape, and at 57% the nose is exactly what tells you what is coming. Have a look at our whisky glasses.

Who is behind Old Ezra?

The Ezra Brooks brand was created in 1957 and today sits with Lux Row Distillers in Bardstown, Kentucky. The rye in this particular bottle is distilled and matured in Indiana at Ross & Squibb Distillery, one of America's oldest and most respected rye houses. Browse the rest of our American Whiskey.