Benchmark Bonded Bourbon (100 Proof)

Cornbread…just corn and bread

Nose: sweet corn Taste: musty dusty corn

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.

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.