Benchmark No. 8 Bourbon

3rd pour tonight. I definitely found my new daily sipper. Great flavor for an amazing price.

Part of the famed Buffalo Trace mashbill #1, Benchmark NO. 8 is the younger sibling of such coveted bourbons as Eagle Rare, colonel E.H. Taylor, and George T Stagg. It comes in the humble plastic bottle with the not quite straight label, and in my neck of the woods it's a mere 11.99 for 750 ml. So obviously, aged only 3 years your not getting the complex flavors that come from 10+ years in the barrel and a sweet spot in the rickhouse, but what you do get is a mild, fairly inoffensive bourbon bargain. Nothing fancy here, just basic bourbon flavor, vanilla, a little oak and not much spice. The finish, unfortunately, has a bit of a medicinal taste. So maybe it borderlines on dull, but it gets the job done in a cocktail and if you're in the mood for something basic, it's fine for sipping too. I wouldn't recommend drinking this neat, much better on the rocks.

Not bad at all, but a little too sweet. Vanilla, oak spice and marshmallow. There’s a trace of erythritol syrup on the finish that I don’t love, but otherwise the finish is nice and spicy. Solid classic bourbon.

Day 7 of #30daybourbonchallenge for #bourbonheritagemonth Benchmark Old No. 8 Buffalo Trace Mashbill #1 This is the low rye mashbill (believed <10% rye) versus the Ancient Age's Mashbill #2 Nose is sweet with toffee and a bit of ethanol Palate sweet with a little spicy Finish is spice with a mild alcohol burn. This isn't complex but at 10 🦌 per 750 mL it's bourbon. I could drink the daily and would be decent in a mixer.

Nose: Light sweetness and black pepper. Taste: Very smooth light mouth feel, good sweetness and pepper. Almost no heat due to the low proof. It’s a pretty short finish. I can’t believe the low ratings. If it was $50 it would be a 1.5 or 2 but it’s $10!! Pretty good for bottom shelf stuff.