Benchmark Bonded Bourbon (100 Proof)

Starts with a rich cherry nose, in fact the cherry is more prevalent than just about any BT product I've consumed to date. Hints of cola, cinnamon and corn sugars, it's not refined but it is bourbon. At the front the cherry indeed hangs in there, the richness of a nice sweet cornbread and cola are the meat of this juice, and that cola nut hangs in through the finish. It isn't complex but it is rich and pretty good even though the finish doesn't come off as anything special. The 4 years and 100 proof are just enough to give it a true heavy weight booze feel and makes a somewhat similar(Evan BiB) seem harsh in comparison. This blows standard Benchmark out of the water and makes Buffalo Trace namesake bourbon seem pretty pedestrian too. Finally a Benchmark label product I can enjoy. I'd give it higher marks if it was bit more refined or complex but for a BiB under 25 dollars this really makes the BT distillery seem like they actually care about us for a change. The typical BT fan should certainly pick this up and even if doesn't appeal to you the way it has to me, you've at least got a cheaper bottle you can make some really nice cocktails out of. Talk about a poor mans Eagle Rare.. Definite recommend. Cheers!

N: Orange citrus and cinnamon, spiced sweet corn, something like a Thanksgiving smell - pumpkin pie spice maybe - ethanol, toasted nuts. P: Sweet corn, vanilla, caramel, cinnamon, barrel spice and char, citrus bite at the sides of the tongue, chewy toffee, maybe some light roast coffee in the corners of the mouth. Good medium body with some chew to it. F: Barrel spice and char, cinnamon, dash of citrus, some chili pepper. Not much more. Solid bonded bourbon. I've enjoyed this bottle. Could see myself picking this up again when I see it. Weakest point is the finish, which just doesn't add much or do much for the bourbon, but there's nothing bad or off about it either. All in all, a fairly standard or classic bourbon profile, at a good price, and at 100 proof. Hard to complain. _______ Please come join an unofficial Distiller community on Discord: https://discord.gg/VSmCvzAQfH. We chat spirits (and other things) in real time while being a great resource to each other for recommendations, finding deals, and generally enjoying the journey together. (If the link is expired, please post a comment and I will provide a new one.)

So I was impressed with the full proof, I guess I gotta give this a shot....it's technically the oldlest age statement lol Nose - I get right off the bat classic buffalo trace cherry. Then corn, oil, and just that kinda dusty oak muted thing. Very EH Taylor...boring but good stuff. Very much in that 15-40 dollar bourbon area if you like cherry and corn. Taste - This is that dusty oak and clay with some cherry vs cherry first like the nose. The nose was really good. This again takes me back to EH Taylor and bad blantons. Just element after element of good easy drinking bourbon and young rushed elements. I like it. I like a good bit. So yeah...this isn't the full proof. That's just better top to bottom. This is younger feeling, more meh. But for I think this was 16 bucks....if you like the more boring profile of buffalo trace that sweet soft stuff...it's a good buy. I'll give this a 1 star. It's well deserving of that kind of quality mark. I could consider a 1.25. And this does do well with mixers!

BENCHMARK BONDED NOSE: Opens HOT with Cinnamon & Orange Peel. Let it breathe for a few minutes to get Pencil Shavings, Dusty Oak, Vanilla, Tart Berries, and Fall Spice. NEAT: Very Oak Forward up front followed by Vanilla/Maple Sweetness and Cinnamon. Pretty Simple profile, but Rich Thick and Coating. Medium Length slightly Tannic Finish with nice KYHug. That Oaky Sweetness returns to coat and layer the palate. SPLASH: Add a little water and Brown Sugar shows up on the nose. The palate picks up a bit of the Orange Peel and Fall Spice from the nose. Maybe a hint of Cherry Coke? The Oak picks up a little Tingly Spice as well. I think this will be very good on the rocks. VERDICT: This is not overly complex, but it is VERY Good. Similar in profile to EWBIB, but missing the nuttiness that I’m not always in the mood for. I’d have to side by side them blind, but I believe this is better. I could see this as a solid sub-$20 workhorse (Neat, Rocks, Cocktails) if it’s going to be readily available.

BIB, 4 years, 100 proof. Tasted neat. Nose is sweet and baking spice, pepper, and a wiff of ethanol. Light copper color and coating legs in the glass. In the mouth, sweet, burnt sugar and vanilla oak. Coating mouthfeel. Touch of ethanol as it heads into a spicy grassy finish. Fairly long, tingling mint mouthfeel. It's not an overly complex bourbon, but a step up from Benchmark #8. At the price this is a really servicable quality bourbon at a higher proof point for mixing. The Benchmark Single Barrel 95 proof (4yrs?) is more interesting with a developed oak flavor--it's rounder, less ethanol, and more mature. That surprised me tasting these side by side--thought I'd prefer the BIB. The Single is $5 more than the BIB, but... It's a little better to sip.

Knowing this is primarily a “bottom shelf” or “welll” label and knowing that it serves the role of a no frills work horse fairly well, I was intrigued when I saw this BIB label yet expectations remained low. The price tag tipped the scales for me though and I had to try it. After completion of the bottle I must say it did not overwhelm. The higher proof was welcome, and definitely made it more hardy but there simply isn't enough depth here to make it very interesting. Great for mixing cocktails at a party in which noone wants to talk much about whiskey and the price tag is blissfully low, but there simply isn't any real depth here to make it very memorable.