Benchmark Full Proof Bourbon (125 Proof)

Day 30 of #30daysofbourbon for the #30daybourbonchallenge #bhm Benchmark Full Proof 62.5% ABV Buffalo Trace Distillery Mashbill #1 Low Rye (<10%) It only seemed right to end this year's journey with Bemchmark Full Proof for me. I bought Bemchmark #8 as am impulse buy for the journey and discovered I really liked it. I also love my high proof bourbons. This seemed like the perfect combination. Before I move on to the last tasting for this month, I want to thank everyone who has come along with me this month. You all made this so enjoyable by interacting with the posts. So many of you offered me samples to ensure I succeed in completing the journey. Honestly. this was a spur of the moment thing that O decided to start on 9/1 and see how far I could get. I wasn't sure I'd be able to get it to 30 days. Yet here we are. I want to send a heartfelt thanks to Matt Allen for being so generous with the samples, Brent Sherri Ross and Matthew Carver for being willing to add to the samples if needed, The Rotgut Review for the ER, and Ben Jalowiec for sharing a pour. The many friends I've made over the last 2 years are what make the bourbon so much better. Cheers🥃 Now on the final tasting of 2020 BHM Nose: Caramel and spice abound. I smell a green note as well. It's not quite grass or hay. Maybe a little like a green apple. I swear after the 1st sip I am getting root beer. Not straight but a sweet root beer. Palate: Wow, that was different. Oak, and something else. I just can't place it. I like it. Finish. There's no mistaking this is a HP whiskey. It gives you a nice KY hug but its not horrible.

Hot nose. Spice and caramel forward. Decently oily mouthfeel. Sweet vanilla and baking spices. I like the higher proof but the finish falls flat pretty fast.

I’ve lamented for years the Buffalo Trace bottle problem: walk into majority of liquor stores and if you’re looking for a Buffalo Trace product you’ll find three bottom shelf dwellers and then the standard $25-30 90-proof Buffalo Trace. That’s it. Because everything else has been relegated to either waiting lists, raffles or the secondary market. I hope Benchmark Single Barrel and Full Proof is a sign of things to come as Buffalo Trace adds variety to their offerings. Nose: Stagg Jr is that you?? It’s the same recipe, and younger, but at this proof you get many hints of Stagg Jr. That got me excited. A decent amount of oak, vanilla, some cherries. Taste: okay, this is definitely a younger bourbon than something like Stagg Jr or even standard Buffalo Trace. But it’s not bad! Pretty rich and not as ethanol forward as I’d expect a young full-proofer to be. Finish: despite the proof it doesn’t stick around long at all. And so, we start off strong and end with a bit of a whimper, but this is not a bad bourbon by any stretch of the imagination. Now if BT can just get some variety in the Ancient Age line.

125 proof. At least 4 years old. Part of the Benchmark Series (Single barrel, Small Batch, Bonded, Full Proof, and Top Floor). Currently only available in Indiana, but will be expanding to other States eventually - per Buffalo Trace. N: Crème brûlée, brown sugar, and a mix of baking spices. P: Brown sugar with molasses, pumpkin spice, and maple syrup. F: Molasses morphs into chocolate with some creme brûlée. I was expecting to like this a little more than I did. I thought the proof would make this a little more vibrant. It actually drinks pretty easy for 125 proof. It’s still a good drinker, especially considering the price. So far, this Benchmark series has a definite brown sugar motif throughout. This is no exception, but the molasses component is pretty evident in this one as well. I have one left to go in the 5 bottle series. I believe the prices paid for this bottle was around $20.