Benchmark Full Proof Bourbon (125 Proof)

Benchmark Full Proof Neat // Glencairn // Blind Nose: Waxy red apple, vanilla extract, Bit O’ Honey (caramel and very light peanut), strawberry pop tart filling, sugar cookie, bread dough, sweet pipe tobacco, dry oak chips Palate: Whoa. This is delightfully sweet. Red pop tart filling, strawberry shortcake, heavy cream, pull apart Twizzlers, also some nice, sweet citrus - I’m thinking blood oranges and/or fresh blueberries, am I crazy or is there a bit of bananas foster here as well? Or maybe banana pudding. Definitely caramelized sugars and vanilla, and I THINK I detect some mushy banana. Finish: Maybe my favorite part of this dram, though the palate is no slouch either. Cinnamon candy (Hot Tamales) escort the dram out and lingers nicely, tingling my tongue and cheeks. Bit O’ Honey/Big Hunk, baking spices, tobacco leaf. Man. I really like this! It’s like a trip down the candy aisle, then to the breakfast pastry aisle right afterwards. It’s not so sweet that I’d call this dessert whiskey, but the rich, sweet qualities definitely shine through making for a fun dram. I’d say this mashbill consist mostly of corn based on that, but I could also just be having a really great day and not feeling spicy at all. Thanks for the sample, @trentoniousmaximus 86/100 My scoring system: 59 and below: Bad. Not worth buying. 60 - 69: Decent, but with obvious flaws. Might buy, but very price dependent. 70 - 79: Pleasant to good, worth buying, but nothing spectacular that wows me. 80 - 89: Good to very good. Insta-buys that I actively seek out. Must contain some “wow” moments. 90 - 94: Greatness has been achieved. No detectable flaws, and every moment is sheer pleasure. 95 - 100: This is where I score my “best of all time” drams. Similar to lower 90s, but with something tangible/perceptible that sends it over the top.

So I'm going to give this a 4. I try not to take price into consideration but when this bottle cost me 18.99 it's hard not to throw a little extra point wise for value. Its really good.

Heat is upfront but gives way to pleasant cherry, maple, cola and vanilla notes. Doesn’t linger more than I want it to. Mouthfeel is Iight and leaves me wanting a bit more from it. Solid bottle overall. Not something I’d hunt for but I’d grab another if it finds me.

It’s a nice price point for a full proof bourbon from Buffalo Trace, but honestly it’s just maple or brown sugar on the nose and some heat on the throat.

I love the nose! Brown sugar and buttered pancakes with maple syrup. Some nice caramel and baking spice on the palate with a medium finish.

Great stuff! Nice spice going down but not the harsh heat type — best bang for buck full proof I’ve come across!

So after trying the BiB and deciding it to be a worthy, if low end, "poor man's Eagle Rare", next in line for me is the full proof. Off the top there is a load of richness, it shouts high proof from the nose, more of the sweet caramel vanilla in this than the cherry centric BiB. Hints of dry rye and barrell. A very inviting nose indeed. All that sugar comes rushing in at the front along with a great deal of the heat you should expect with the proof, very in your face with the high corn notes, a bit Stagg Juniourish? I can't argue. The bite of Stagg Jr certainly comes to mind. Through the middle comes the harsher notes, but cinnamon and barrell tannin are there. The finish isn't lasting and surprisingly mellow for the short rough ride you get. In fact this does remind me a lot of Stagg Jr, much more so than any other BT product, obviously it's the same mash, and if it isn't from that line I'd be highly surprised. Considering this runs well under half the price of what a Stagg Jr typically gets in demand markets these days, this is certainly another "deal" in the Benchmark special release line, and depending on your affinity of the short Stagg bottle, will appeal to you in kind. As a fan of the stout little bottle, I'm going to be socking a few of these away, just for when I feel like some Stagg on a not so special occasion. Another good effort from BT, hoping this becomes a trend. Cheers!

Benchmark Full Proof (125 Proof) [Neck Pour] Screw Top: I had a hard time getting this sucker opened. The lack of perforation made things harder than they should have been. I am usually fan of screw tops, but this one was definitely cheap. The lid is there. Rests atop the bottle with an apathy beyond that of most nihilistic 19 year olds. ISO cork. Nose: Very Buffalo Trace. Smells like EHT Small batch with more sweet caramel, and way more ethanol. Cherries, werthers caramel chews, and oak. I was surprised at the nose. Woah just came back and nosed it after 5 or so minutes and it is very caramely (and doughy?) Taste: Full caramel! Oily cherry entrance. High heat. Very sweet and sugary. Not very complex and a little rowdy, pretty thin, but fun nonetheless. Finish: Quicker to finish than most, but although hasty in its exit, it is intentional with the Kentucky Hug it leaves behind. This is where the price point shows, but it really isnt terrible. This has me all over the place. Disappointing lid. Incredible nose. Sweet palate. Short finish, but long hug. For the price, I rate it 3.75. Gonna give it more O2 and see how it develops. Delicious treat from BT. All in all incredibly high VFM. FOR THE MONEY: This is a great time for anyone who loves high proof whaskey. Just buy this and enjoy it for what it is; barrel proof BT for under $20!