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Benchmark Single Barrel Bourbon (95 Proof)
Bourbon — Kentucky , USA
Reviewed
March 19, 2023 (edited January 31, 2024)
BENCHMARK SINGLE BARREL
NOSE: Like the Bonded, this starts out HOT. Let it breathe and there is a rotation of Tart Peach, Lemon Custard, Oak Spice, Pipe Tobacco, Dry Brown Sugar, and some Fall Spice. Very good!
NEAT: Vanilla/Maple/Butterscotch Sweetness dominates the front end followed by Orange Peel, Lemon Custard, Oak Spice, Baking Spices, and Black Pepper. Short Slightly Drying Finish with a mild, yet building KYHug. Spicy Tingly Oak Oak & Vanilla coat and layer the palate. The longer you spend with this, the sweeter it gets.
SPLASH: Orange Marshmallow Circus Peanuts show up on the Nose and Palate, along with a Waxy Leather note. Ghh be e Finish gets a bit more spice as well.
VERDICT: This is another winner. I LOVE when i get that Circus Peanut note on a whiskey. This is more complex and sweeter than the Bonded, but at the cost of some of the clingy mouthfeel. This would be good at $45, but at $25 its great. This is a Single Barrel, so YMMV.
25.0
USD
per
Bottle
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BBanner . I agree with you about Benchmark Top Floor . It is not even as good as Benchmark No 8 original ..
Ctrexman .Top Floor Benchmark was the worst quality of all the Benchmarks.
@Ctrexman My final ranking is Single, Bonded, Full Proof, Small Batch, Top Floor. I was fairly pleased with all of them except the Top Floor, which will not be a repeat buy.
@Ctrexman replied below. I always forget this app doesn’t automatically tag in reply.
I’ve had 3 (review of the Full Proof forthcoming) and as of right now I’d rate them Single Barrel, Bonded, & Full Proof. I’ve yet to see the Top Floor or Small Batch. The original Benchmark is one of the better $12 bottles out there and it’s what I use for infusions and homemade Fireball. It’s pretty “neutral” for a Bourbon.
So whats the best Benchmark......I thought the standard issue was pretty awful but seems this new line gets a lot of praise. The overall vibe i get from reviews I have seen/read was top floor was the one to get. What say ye