Tastes

This whiskey is the least impressive in the Benchmark series. While the aroma is pleasant, with hints of vanilla, spice, cookie dough, and oak, the flavor profile is disappointing. It has a thin consistency and overly sweet, poorly balanced flavors. The finish is heated with sweet spice and cinnamon. Not recommended as a straight drink or mixer.

Benchmark No. 8 Bourbon offers rich aromas of pipe tobacco, vanilla, spice, and oak. The entry is smooth with a palate of sweet spice, black tea, and tobacco. The finish is hot cinnamon, sweet black tea, and oak. An unbelievable quality at an affordable price.

The smell of this whiskey is just amazing! It's got sherry, tobacco, honey, heather, peat, smoke, and cinnamon all mixed together. When you take a sip, you can taste the honey, heather, and smoke all working together to create a smooth and delicious flavor. And the finish is just perfect with a blend of cinnamon, smoke, and citrus that really hits the spot. This is definitely a whiskey that you don't want to miss out on!

Over the past 5 years, the quality of J. W. Dant Bottled in Bond Bourbon has declined. On the nose, you'll detect notes of leather, caramel, vanilla, and oak. The entry is smooth with a palate of black sweet tea, leather, and spice. The finish is characterized by sweet spice, vanilla, and a hint of oak. It is not a good choice for mixing and is only mediocre when consumed straight. Overall, it's a far cry from its former self.

My personal opinion is that while Elijah Craig Small Batch Bourbon is a decent whiskey, I believe that its price point is not justified. It has a light bourbon taste with aromas of oak, caramel, vanilla, and spice which are quite pleasant. However, the taste is not as full-bodied as I would have liked. The mouthfeel is smooth but thin, and the palate has bitter spice and oak flavors which could be improved. The finish is sweet with a faint hint of vanilla, which is a nice touch. Although it may not be as good as its previous 12-year-old label, it is still a decent choice for those who prefer a lighter flavor profile. In my opinion, there are better options available within the same price range.

JP Wiser's Deluxe comes in a newly designed bottle that is visually impressive. However, the whiskey's taste could be improved. While it has a pleasant toffee aroma, the taste is one-dimensional, featuring toffee notes throughout. It is not a great mixer, but it is enjoyable when sipped neat. The whiskey leaves room for improvement, but it has potential. Overall, it is a decent choice for those who appreciate a simple, smooth whiskey.

Cutty Sark's 12-year-old Scotch blend is superior to its regular Scotch. It offers exquisite aromas of oak, citrus, caramel, vanilla, and toffee. The smooth entry of this Scotch has a palate with notes of oak, citrus, fig, and toffee. The finish is a perfect blend of toffee, citrus, and a subtle hint of fig. Cutty 12-year-old Scotch is a great choice for mixing with 2 parts water or soda.

Isle of Skye's 12-year-old Scotch blend is better quality than the 8-year-old. There is a 7-dollar increase in the Isle of Skye 12-year-old price. Both have the same aromas of smoke, peat, caramel,and oak. The mouthfeel is thicker with a smoother entry of smoke, peat, and caramel. The finish is smoke and caramel. It mixes well with water and soda.Two parts water or soda to one part whisky.

The Isle of Skye's 8-year-old Scotch blend is of similar quality to Johnnie Walker Red. It has a rich aroma of smoke, peat, caramel, and heather that greets the nose. The entry is smooth, and the palate offers a mix of smoke, peat, and heather. The finish is short, with a hint of bitter spice. Drinking it straight is good, but it's not recommended to mix it with water or soda.

Chivas Regal 12-year-old whisky has a rich and inviting aroma, with notes of caramel, milk chocolate, and honeycomb. However, while the initial taste is smooth and pleasant, it lacks the complexity and depth that some whisky enthusiasts crave. The finish is short, with a mild sweetness of caramel and milk chocolate. It is best consumed neat, allowing the flavors to fully develop without being diluted by other drinks or cocktails. If you're interested in trying this whisky, I suggest waiting for a sale or for the price to drop to around $20. Alternatively, you may want to consider Johnnie Walker Black, Haig Dimple 15-year-old, or Naked Grouse, which are all excellent options that offer more value at the same price point.