Benchmark Single Barrel

Nov 10

Benchmark Single Barrel

Like several value-brand single barrels (looking at you, Evan Williams) while this is labeled a single barrel, no information is given about the actual barrel the bottle came from. So, if you pick this up and decide you like it, the best chance you have is probably to buy another bottle from the same store…but no guarantees!

Buffalo Trace Mashbill #1 (Low-Rye)

47.5% ABV/95 Proof
~3Y

Eye: Flan-colored. Medium rims and legs.

Nose: More caramel and oak than I expected. Cherry-studded coffee cake. Very nice nose.

Palate: Spicy, but sweetness rolls in after. Fresh and baked cherries come out with a pleasant oak dryness. Great heat develops after some air. Mouthfeel is medium-bodied, coating, oily, and lingering.

Finish: Keeps going in the corners of the mouth, with lingering cherry notes (especially candied ones) with rye heat. No herbal notes.

Overall: This can stand up to an EW SiB in my opinion. Just like many bottom-shelf SiBs, there’s no info on the actual barrel, but still a value buy.

Rating: 5.8

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)