Bourbon

[ivan]

Benchmark

Price: $
Proof: 80

The folks over at Buffalo Trace in Frankfort bring us Benchmark, and the bottle boldly states "The Bourbon by which all others are measured". We shall see...

This Bourbon has a lighter brown color than most, and the first sniff is sharp, with notes of corn. The first sip is nice and slightly bold, with a more of a caramel flavor than the color or aroma would suggest. The aftertaste is unremarkable, but pleasant. Follow-on tastes follow the same pattern. This is hard for me to describe, but not in a bad way. It mainly tastes like a decent Bourbon. There aren't too many pronounced flavors.

A splash of water doesn't change much. It tastes like a slightly watered down decent Bourbon.

My recommendation on this one is "why not"? I picked up 750 mL for $10, and while it doesn't really impress me, it also doesn't disappoint. In a sense, I guess their tagline was correct- this is such a run-of-the-mill Bourbon that you literally could use it as a baseline to compare other Bourbons against. It's so average it's bizarre.

[ThirstyDrunk]

Benchmark
It's so average it's bizarre.

That could be their new tagline.

But really, are you saying it's just that much from being a good bourbon, yet that much from being a bad bourbon?

[ivan]

But really, are you saying it's just that much from being a good bourbon, yet that much from being a bad bourbon?

No, because it's a long way from being a bad Bourbon. It's just... unremarkable. I had actually thought that maybe the problem was with me, and I just wasn't tasting things right yesterday. So, after I wrote the review, but before I hit "submit", I poured myself a glass of Ezra. BAM! All the proper flavors popped, so I was pretty sure that my taste buds weren't the issue.

It was just a weird Bourbon to taste. I wish I could explain it better, but I mainly kept saying things like "Yeah, this is alright." I wouldn't go out of my way to buy it again, but if somebody offered me a glass, I wouldn't say no.

[thirsty4beer]

i wish i could find some Rebel Yell here. the off license where i got it before got replaced by a fuckin dominos pizza shop. never seen it anywhere else. any other UK drinkers out there seen it?

[libertyjug68]

I am currently unemployed finding sporadic work here and there. It would be pretentious to discuss esters, nose , body etc., in relation to this bottom shelf icterid but for my budget old crow on the rocks or flowing from a flask is a LUXURY I can afford and actually enjoy.

[BeerMakesMeSmart]

I am currently unemployed finding sporadic work here and there. It would be pretentious to discuss esters, nose , body etc., in relation to this bottom shelf icterid but for my budget old crow on the rocks or flowing from a flask is a LUXURY I can afford and actually enjoy.

By any means necessary...

[Mayhem]

I am currently unemployed finding sporadic work here and there. It would be pretentious to discuss esters, nose , body etc., in relation to this bottom shelf icterid but for my budget old crow on the rocks or flowing from a flask is a LUXURY I can afford and actually enjoy.

By any means necessary...

I can't seem to find Old Crow here.

[drunkensooner]

Bourbon, who the hell drinks that?

Only those that like alcohol.

so...drunk.

[libertyjug68]

I am currently unemployed finding sporadic work here and there. It would be pretentious to discuss esters, nose , body etc., in relation to this bottom shelf icterid but for my budget old crow on the rocks or flowing from a flask is a LUXURY I can afford and actually enjoy.

By any means necessary...

I can't seem to find Old Crow here.

it flows from the wells of many bars in town and is always availble at the sls

[peetie44]

By any means necessary...

I can't seem to find Old Crow here.

it flows from the wells of many bars in town and is always availble at the sls

lj68,

Bro, dunno what the "sls" is (gonna guess "state liquor store"?) but if you got no gig...try Four Roses bourbon for some cheapo-good whisk(e)y.

It drinks good to me sometimes...

[libertyjug68]

I will look for Four Roses @ the state liquor store, and then, bottoms up!

[libertyjug68]

Idaho must be a Four Roses free zone

[Rip Rufus]

I just got back from vacation in NC, and they had several bourbons down there that I can't get at home here in NJ. I found, and really enjoy, Buffalo Trace. I know it is a favorite of many of the bourbon fans on the site, and with good reason. Not my favorite, but still damn good. I also found, and haven't tried yet, Elmer T. Lee and Rebel Reserve. And comments on these new bottles from anyone on here? I'll crack them both within the next couple days.

[Rip Rufus]

ELMER T. LEE.

Good god, that is good stuff. This may be a new favorite, right up there with Eagle Rare and Bulleit.

[NYDingbat]

You can NOT POSSIBLY go wrong with Pappy van Winkle. They've got a 15 year - about $70, a 20 year - about $100 and a 23 year - about $220. It comes out in the spring. It's tough to get a hold of, but well worth the hunt. I don't partake in the brown booze and even I like this stuff. I treat the Spook with this on a regular basis - he loves the stuff. Only downside is that I've thoroughly spoiled his palate for anything else. Ain't a whole buncha small batches carried by his middle of nowhere locals, none in fact. So he's kinda screwed when wanting bourbon while out and about town and finds himself choking down whatever they have on hand. Poor guy. He actually used to think he truly liked Maker's.