Today I'm testing this Old Ezra 7 year old bourbon to see if it can claim a spot in the Top 5 barrel proof bourbon rankings.  This bottle is out of Lux Co Distillers - which until 2018 had been a non-distiller producer.  It had been said that their product was produced by Heaven Hill thought not confirmed through any of my research.  

Stats: 7 yrs old; 117 proof - barrel strength; Undisclosed mashbill (presumed 78% Corn 12% Malted Barley 10% Rye), $79

Verdict: I have to assume based on dates, ageing, dumping, bottling, & distribution times that this is still Heaven Hill source bourbon, as long as those rumors are true, but most seem to agree they are. With that said, I would expect a little more out of this one.  Noting bad about it but the flavors were a bit muted.  I do get hints of dark cocoa, some fruity sweetness, a good bit of spice.  The finish was a bit astringent which is ok if there are some heavier flavors coming through.  At the very end, I got a cardamom earthy type note which personally isn't a lasting note I want.  Overall, this falls in the average range for me in terms of barrel strength offerings.  It's somewhat difficult to find here in central KY and I'm not quite sure it's worth it for me at the moment to expend the effort to hunt for it.