Ezra Brooks Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

A real deal, straight-up authentic Bourbon.

Ezra Brooks, conceived and forged in Kentucky, has been making happy hours happier with bona fide American Bourbon since the King sang about loving too much (it's 1957). The brand was created by Frank Silverman in Lawrenceburg until the business went under in the 1970s. In 1993, Luxco reanimated the beloved Whiskey-maker and moved it to Lux Row Distillers in Bardstown. The amber Spirit is born in a 43-foot custom copper still and it ends up in new charred oak barrels at 125 Proof max. Although its older brothers boast about tradition, Ezra Brooks had a couple of cameos in Hollywood: there's a billboard in The Sting with Newman and Redford, while Gary Oldman grabs a bottle of Ezra Brooks in Léon. It's a true American star with real roots.

Some days, all you need is a good sour mash, right? Just kidding, although it's certainly true for Ezra Brooks Kentucky Straight Bourbon where everything begins with a genuine Kentucky sour mash. It sets the tone and the Spirit is then aged the old-fashioned way. Right before bottling, it undergoes charcoal filtering, which means activated charcoal is used to filter the Bourbon to create a smoother tasting expression, but without stripping away its natural flavors. And we wouldn't want to do that as this straight-up authentic Bourbon is packed with precious flavors, featuring a rich profile of caramel and vanilla, hints of spice and chocolate, finishing up nice and warm. Throw some of its numerous awards in the mix, such as Double Gold Medal, San Francisco World Spirits Competition, 2018, and you just know this is the real deal.