Tastes

Elijah Craig Small Batch Blind Test Nose: light, peppery, oaky, wood smoke Taste: smooth, light caramel sweetness, slightly peppery, not very complex but not bad. Finish: slight cinnamon, peppery, Overall: 3/5. Smooth and pleasant, but little complexity.

Benchmark Bonded Blind Test Nose: baking spice, bread, light, nothing unpleasant but nothing special either Taste: baking spice, very similar to the nose. Baking bread. Slight vanilla. Not complex, but what it does, it does well. Doesn’t seem to be high proof. Very drinkable neat. Overall, this is very similar to Evan Williams Bottled in Bond. Finish: cinnamon, baking spice Overall: 3/5, simple, but does what it needs to do. Great for the price range.

Blind Test: Maker’s Mark 46 French Oaked Nose: sweet, vanilla, red fruit, wood smoke Taste: oak, wood smoke (not overwhelming, sort of like smelling a bbq from a distance), vanilla, feels higher proof (over 100), very enjoyable, sweet Finish: hot but not unpleasant, cinnamon, red hots/cinnamon candy, long finish Overall score: 4/5