Benchmark No. 8 Bourbon

Rating: 10/23 I've heard good things about it and oh my was it some effort to track down, but I got my hands on a bottle. I don't expect to be amazed by this, but I'm hoping it's competitive with Ancient Age at least or preferably Ancient Ancient Age 10 Star, or Even Buffalo Trace. N: Ah, a very typical Buffalo Trace nose. It has that sort of tangerine light caramel on top of some mild but musty wood. It's a fairly light nose, but not so light that I'm worried. There's a bit of slightly youthful caramel beside some vanilla and an occasional hint of peanut. Honestly, I'm enjoying this nose. P: Way too light. Sweet, thin, watery. Prominent spice (cinnamon and just generic something) on top of a flat wood flavor with some very light caramel that's kind of young, with just a hint of anise. I am impressed that I don't get much of the alcohol flavor in here and where I do it's pretty clean. I won't say that this is bad, but it's definitely not good and it's too light to be used for mixing. much of anything - except maybe a bourbon variation on a traditionally tequila or refreshing highball cocktail. F: Spicy wood with some vanilla at first, then it gets sweet with an underlying lightly spicy long tail. - Conclusion - I don't really enjoy this and I don't see much use for it either. It's not actively bad and I can finish a glass, but considering that it's unhealthy, I'd rather not drink it. I think an 11 would be seriously pushing it here. Ancient Ancient Age 10 Star (12) and Buffalo Trace are seriously better. I think even regular Anicent Age is more complex. This is probably going to be a 9 or 10. I'm leaning toward a 10.

Fairly smooth on the rock not bad for the price I feel it tough to beat for a low budget i have had worse that cost a bunch more. Could be partial this one started me on bourbon/ whiskey and scotch

Sweet, not very spicey, corn and honey, little cherry.

One of my fav daily sippers

One of the, if not the best value bourbon out there. it has almost all the traits of a bourbon like vanilla and floral nose and palate. The only thing it's lacking is the complexity when it enters the mouth, and also the richness and thickness (aka too watery). But again , what's to complain for the price ?