It’s time to pull this bourbon off the bench.
Benchmark Single Barrel is the single barrel offering from the Benchmark collection. Not too hard to figure that one out, huh? This group from Buffalo Trace includes a small batch and BIB, as well as “Full Proof,” “Top Floor,” and the entry level Old No. 8 Brand. But among the Benchmark family, Single Barrel is a bit of the middle child.
The start of Benchmark Single Barrel is all about sweet, oaky, brown sugar. It’s a promising start that unfortunately thins out into a slightly watery texture. Despite the thinness, this bourbon still manages to pull together some rye-like flavors: Allspice, clove, earthy herbs, and citrus. Sure the flavors are annoyingly subtle, but it’s all a moot point once the pepper party begins. The end notes and finish are all about pepper, pepper, and more pepper. It’s a nice balance to the brown sugar start, but almost a bit confusing compared to the mild middle.
So why does this flavor adventure make Single Barrel the middle child? Well, although Single Barrel manages to show off common characteristics to the rest of the Benchmark collection, for us it failed to make an independent name for itself. On the one hand, the brown sugar beginning is very reminiscent to Full Proof, but overall this bourbon is thinner and less complex in comparison. On the other, it beats out Old No. 8 brand, but that’s an easy win when you consider that Old No. 8 is marketed as bottom shelf and is 15 proof lower than Single Barrel.
Not to mention, this Single Barrel fails to divulge anything about the single barrel it comes from. The single barrel designation is usually a flex for distilleries, so it’s a bit odd to find almost no information on the process. However, with Buffalo Trace being tapped these days, some murky marketing might be the only approach the distillery has.
Overall, Benchmark Single Barrel is a perfectly enjoyable bourbon. It’s an affordable option at just $25 and easy to sip with its slightly watery texture. But that doesn’t stop us from wanting more and expecting more from this bourbon. We’re greedy that way.
Sure we may have pulled this bourbon off the bench, but it may just belong in the outfield.
STATS: Benchmark Single Barrel Bourbon
- Price for us: $25 for 750 mL
- Proof: 95
- Aged: NAS
- Distillery: Buffalo Trace, owned by the Sazerac Company
- Recommendation: Neat
