Benchmark Single Barrel Bourbon (95 Proof)

Nose: cherry, caramel Taste: sweet, caramel, also caramel, butterscotch Notes: amazing for the cost

0.25-0.5* for value. More complex than the top floor, spicy long finish. Oak, mild brown sugar.

So let me get this straight. BT can't produce enough EHT, Stagg, ER or BT such that we can find a bottle of any retail price? But they have enough to expand the Benchmark line? They have seriously increased production capacity and several new mammoth rick houses. Two years has passed since they introduced this (In Indiana only) so this fall this stuff should be ready for prime time? Enough of the rant and it is nice to see some affordable product other than the 80 proof bottom shelf stuff that barely qualifies as bourbon. It took me well over a year to round up the full line, but the product is pretty easy to find now. Every product in this line is an anathema to me. I have tried them all and like them one night but not the next. The top floor version had more flavor and fragrance than the old 80 but there is an off-putting paint thinner element. The small batch was a step up and fairly rich with traditional bourbon notes. I was hoping for a poor man's BT and it is if you can get past the little bit of turpentine in the background. Having read numerous reviews on the bib, I had great expectations. The 100 proof packs some punch and the typical dark fruit caramel is there. I was hoping to get close to the basically unavailable EHT smb but it's way off the mark with too much young ethanol on nose and tongue. Enter the single barrel. Now I like this one but ymmv as sbs do. It has an expressive nose with lots of caramel, candied cherries and a touch of nutmeg. The taste is true to the nose and it satisfies my bourbon cravings. I put it on a par or maybe above standard BT. It's youth is mostly in the background. The full proof is not a knock off of Stagg Jr and frankly does not even come close. It's difficult to get past the ethanol but a few drops of water helps. It's true to the family but won't make a regular pour around my house A year ago next week, I was in the hospital with covid. Lost my smell and tastes were screwed up. In the three months I was tasting these Benchmark offerings my smell would arbitrarily go away and tastes got weird. Hopefully, I sorted those out. Doc says this may go on forever. I know that I don't enjoy my bourbon as much as in the past so it will be a while till I try any of today's premium offerings. I will be sampling them through your senses so keep up the great reviews.

Comes off sweet and cinnamon along with a decent finish. Definitely will keep this as an everyday.

Caramel, creme brulee, vanilla, light oak. Like the other Benchmark bourbons I have tasted, it gets better the longer it’s open.

Not very complex. A little hot. Cherry coke, vanilla similar to other BT products. I bet this will make good, inexpensive old fashioned mixer.