labajo2411
Benchmark Top Floor Bourbon (86 Proof)
Bourbon — Kentucky, USA
Reviewed
September 5, 2020 (edited January 26, 2021)
Another product out of Buffalo Trace so I’m sure it’ll be snatched up quick. The way it was described to me was poor mans Stagg. I’ve never had Stagg yet so can’t compare, maybe one day. This is Buffalo Trace’s introduction into the low end competitors market and the Top Floor label does a pretty darn good job.
I would recommend letting this rest a little bit before drinking if going with neat or rocks. Right out of the bottle very mild flavors, after about 5-10 minutes flavors were improved. My taste was neat in rocks glass.
Nose - mild, picked up cherry, toasted caramel and butterscotch, little bit of oak, and definitely hints of tobacco.
Palate - overall a pretty balanced flavor, little hints of sweetness. Very light in texture/mouth feel. Almost reminds me of a campfire, has almost like a burnt caramel flavor, hint of cherry, and then pick up some oak and the tobacco flavor with just a little bit of pepper.
Finish - surprisingly is pretty good if you like a sweet tobacco flavor. What it reminds me of is a cigar or more specifically that black and milds scent. The glass after it was finished you would’ve thought you had just walked out of a cigar bar, strong tobacco scent.
If you don’t like the tobacco flavor then I’d probably steer clear of this one. If you do then for the price this is an easy sipper, very smooth, flavors aren’t going to wow you, but it is well balanced. It’s something I could easily break out for a sip around the campfire or hanging outside on a cool fall night. If this stayed in a $20-$25 range absolutely would buy this again, no question.
19.99
USD
per
Bottle
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I’ve heard the poor mans stagg jr comparison too, and for the full proof version of this, I 100% agree