Benchmark Original

Oct 30

Benchmark Original

From Buffalo Trace’s media kit:

“80 Proof “Rye Recipe” Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
This whiskey is medium amber in color, with a nose that bears caramel notes and a delicate stone-fruit backdrop. The body is medium and the palate is robust and sturdy, with some fine leather notes mingling with dry tobacco, a touch of oak and a hint of dried cherries. The finish is smooth and medium in length.”

The original benchmark to measure all other benchmarks!

Buffalo Trace Mashbill #1 (Low-Rye)

40% ABV/80 Proof

~3Y

Eye: Light honey, thick rims and thick legs.

Nose: Sweet, light cognac nose. Buttered popcorn. After air the cognac and grape just keep building sweeter and sweeter.

Palate: Bit of up-front spice, lots of butter, cognac, and fresh grape. Rye bread but no herbal notes. Mouthfeel is thin, spicy at first, evaporative.

Finish: Finish is medium-length, some citrus, very light.

Overall: For a $10 bourbon, it’s hard to complain about anything other than the sweetness. Blind, this could pass for a young brandy. Mouthfeel is also thin.

Rating: 5.0

10 | Insurpassable | Nothing Else Comes Close (Blanton’s Straight from the Barrel)

9 | Incredible | Extraordinary (GTS, Elijah Craig Barrel Proof B518 and B520)

8 | Excellent | Exceptional (12+YO MGP Bourbon, Highland Park Single Barrels)

7 | Great | Well above average (Blanton’s Original, Old Weller Antique, Booker’s)

6 | Very Good | Better than average (Four Roses Small Batch Select, Knob Creek 14+ YO Picks)

5 | Good | Good, solid, ordinary (Elijah Craig Small Batch, Buffalo Trace, Old Grand-Dad Bottled-in-Bond)

4 | Sub-par | Many things I’d rather have (A.D. Laws Four Grain, Compass Box “Oak Cross”)

3 | Bad | Flawed (Iron Smoke Bourbon, Balcones)

2 | Poor | Forced myself to drink it (Buckshee Bourbon and Rye)

1 | Disgusting | Drain pour (Virginia Distilling Co. Cider Cask)