Benchmark Bourbon is a product of the bourbon boom. Bourbon whiskey has exploded in popularity over the past decade, with sales in the United States growing over 50% since 2009. While high-end bourbons grab headlines with their premium pricing and limited availability, more affordable bourbons like Benchmark have quietly built a loyal following.
What is Benchmark Bourbon and who makes it?
Benchmark Bourbon offers an incredibly satisfying and complex bourbon experience, without breaking the bank. Produced by Buffalo Trace Distillery, Benchmark starts with the same corn-heavy mashbill and distillation methods that have made Buffalo Trace a hit. But unlike its pricier cousin, Benchmark is aged for just 3-4 years, skipping the lengthy aging that drives up costs. It also isn’t allocated, and significantly easier to find that Buffalo Trace.
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The result is a sweet, smooth sipping bourbon with distinctive oaky vanilla flavors and a hint of spice. Benchmark comes in a variety of bottlings, from the flagship Benchmark No. 8 to single barrel and small batch limited editions. Each expression offers nuanced tasting notes at a fraction of the price of competing bourbons.
This article explores the history, mashbill, tasting notes, and prices across the Benchmark family of bourbons. We’ll rank every current and past Benchmark bottle, helping you choose the perfect expression to stock your bar cart or gift to fellow bourbon lovers. Read on to become a Benchmark Bourbon expert!
History of Benchmark Bourbon
Benchmark Bourbon has a long and storied history in the American whiskey landscape. The brand traces its origins back to the Benchmark Distilling Company, which was founded in Bardstown, Kentucky in the late 1800s.
Benchmark quickly made a name for itself thanks to its smooth, easy-drinking bourbon that offered great value. The distillery became renowned for its quality and attention to detail in the whiskey-making process.
Major milestones for Benchmark include surviving Prohibition by receiving a special license to continue producing whiskey for “medicinal purposes.” After Prohibition ended, the brand was purchased by the Sinclair Distilling Company.
In the 1940s, Benchmark shifted its distilling operations to the historic Stitzel-Weller distillery in Louisville. This move helped elevate Benchmark’s reputation, as Stitzel-Weller was known for making premium bourbons.
In 1972, the Sazerac Company acquired Benchmark as part of its purchase of the Sinclair Distilling Company. Under Sazerac’s ownership, Benchmark has continued to be a top-selling, affordable straight bourbon whiskey.
Today, Benchmark is distilled at Buffalo Trace Distillery, also owned by Sazerac. But it maintains its own heritage and distinct smooth, easy-drinking taste profile that’s popular for whiskey cocktails and everyday sipping.
Benchmark Bourbon Mashbill
Benchmark bourbons are made from the same mashbill as classic Buffalo Trace bourbons. A mashbill is the recipe of grains used to make the whiskey, specifying the percentages of each grain.
Benchmark uses Buffalo Trace’s wheated bourbon mashbill that is around 70% corn, 20% wheat, and 10% malted barley. This is different from more traditional bourbons that contain rye instead of wheat. The wheat gives Benchmark a softer, sweeter flavor compared to the spiciness from rye.
The use of wheat instead of rye makes Benchmark stand out from many cheaper bourbons. Most low-cost bourbons like Jim Beam use a high-rye mashbill. So Benchmark offers an accessible wheated bourbon experience that would otherwise cost much more from boutique brands.
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The wheated mashbill also means Benchmark shares similarities with pricier Buffalo Trace products like Eagle Rare and the Pappy Van Winkle line. However, Benchmark is aged for less time which accounts for its more affordable price point.
Everything You Need To Know About Each Benchmark Expression
Benchmark bourbons come in a range of expressions, from lower-priced mixing bourbons to higher-end sipping varieties. Here’s how the different Benchmark bottlings compare:
Benchmark Old No. 8
The flagship Benchmark bourbon, Old No. 8 offers a mix of corn sweetness and rye spice. It’s a smooth, easy-drinking bourbon that works well in cocktails or on the rocks. The sweet vanilla and caramel notes pair nicely with the oak char finish. For a budget bourbon, Benchmark Old No. 8 delivers solid flavor and mixability.
Benchmark Small Batch
Selected from handpicked barrels by Benchmark’s master Master Distiller, Benchmark Small batch is bottled at 90 proof. Tasting notes include vanilla, orange, oak, leather, and lots of citrus. This is a great bourbon to have on your shelf as an everyday drinker or mixer.
Benchmark Bonded
As a bonded bourbon, this 100 proof expression is distilled from a single season and aged at least four years in a bonded warehouse. It has a bolder, more layered flavor than Old No. 8, with a spicy rye kick and oak tannins rounding out the sweet corn and vanilla. Benchmark Bonded makes a great Old Fashioned or Manhattan. At its price point, it’s one of the best bonded bourbons available.
Benchmark Single Barrel
From individually selected barrels, the single barrel edition has the deepest, most complex flavor profile. Each barrel varies slightly, but overall it’s rich and oak-heavy with caramel, spice, and stone fruit notes. Since these are the honey barrels picked by the master distiller, Benchmark Single Barrel represents the brand at its best. It’s a fantastic sipping bourbon.
Benchmark Full Proof
At 125 proof, this cask-strength Benchmark packs a punch. Bottled without chill filtering, it has a bold, rich flavor with notes of toasted oak, spice, and dried fruit. The higher alcohol content makes it taste hot at first, but it opens up with some ice or water. For whiskey fans who like barrel proof bourbons, Benchmark Full Proof is a reasonably priced option.
Benchmark Top Floor
Crafted from the top warehouse floors in Benchmark’s distillery, Top Floor ages faster as heat rises. In theory, this lends a flavor that is more advanced of the other Benchmark varieties, despite maintaining a young age statement. Each bottle is sweet, with hints of baking spice, citrus, butterscotch, and oak.
How Much Is Benchmark Bourbon Worth?
Benchmark Bourbon offers an incredible value in the bourbon market, with most expressions available at very affordable prices. This makes Benchmark a go-to bourbon for both cocktail making and sipping neat on a budget.
- Benchmark Bourbon No. 8 Retail Price (750 mL): $10-15
- Benchmark Bourbon Small Batch Retail Price (750 mL): $15-20
- Benchmark Bonded 100 Proof Retail Price (750 mL): $15-25
- Benchmark Single Barrel Retail Price (750 mL): $20-30
- Benchmark Full Proof Retail Price (750 mL): $25-35
- Benchmark Top Floor Retail Price (750 mL):$30-40
The key to finding the best Benchmark Bourbon prices is checking sale flyers and shopping around both local liquor stores and larger retailers. Though availability can be limited at times, Benchmark continues to overdeliver for bourbon lovers on a budget.
How Benchmark Bourbon Compares to Buffalo Trace
Benchmark and Buffalo Trace are two iconic bourbon brands, but they have some key differences that distinguish them from each other. While both bourbons are owned by the same parent company, Sazerac, they have distinct age statements, flavor profiles, and price points.
When it comes to pricing, Benchmark is the clear value option retailing around $10-15 per 750ml bottle on average. Buffalo Trace costs almost 3 times as much, typically retailing between $25-30…and that’s if you can find it without going through the secondary market or allocation system. While Buffalo Trace justifies its higher price tag with more depth of flavor, Benchmark offers an easy-drinking and affordable bourbon experience.
Age statements are another huge differentiator in quality. While Buffalo Trace is rumored to be aged around 7-9 years, Benchmark bourbon is significantly younger, with many bottles clocking in at the 3-4 year range.
Both bourbons, however, are based off of Buffalo Trace’s acclaimed Mashbill #1, and therefore share the same DNA as acclaimed bourbons like E.H. Taylor or George Stagg (part of BTAC).
Best Cocktails to Make with Benchmark Bourbon
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Benchmark is an affordable and versatile bourbon that can be used as a staple in any variety of cocktails. Some staples include:
Old Fashioned
The Old Fashioned is a classic bourbon cocktail that lets the spirit shine. Simply muddle sugar and bitters in a glass, add ice and 2 oz of Benchmark bourbon, and garnish with an orange slice. Benchmark has just the right sweetness and spice to complement the bitters.
Manhattan
A Manhattan is made with 2 oz bourbon, 1 oz sweet vermouth, and angostura bitters. Shake over ice and strain into a chilled coupe glass. Garnish with a maraschino cherry. Benchmark’s bold flavor stands up well to the sweet vermouth.
Boulevardier
Similar to a Manhattan, but with gin instead of vermouth. The herbal gin and spicy rye flavors in Benchmark pair perfectly. Build in a glass with ice and garnish with an orange peel.
Whiskey Sour
A timeless sour cocktail made by shaking 2 oz bourbon, 3/4 oz lemon juice, and 1/2 oz simple syrup with ice. Strain into a glass and garnish with a maraschino cherry. Benchmark adds a nice spice kick.
Maple Hot Toddy
A cold weather bourbon cocktail classic, this includes Benchmark bourbon, maple syrup, honey, and lemon juice. This is a great and easy winter or fall recipe for a crisp day, and a delicious and easy-to-make cocktail for anyone.
Benchmark Julep
Put a twist on the classic Mint Julep by using Benchmark instead of your usual bourbon. The rye spice adds a unique flavor to this summery bourbon-mint sipper. Muddle mint leaves with simple syrup and fill the glass with crushed ice before adding Benchmark and more mint.
Benchmark Bourbon offers a solid, affordable bourbon for both mixing and sipping. Throughout its history, it has been a bartending workhorse while also gaining a following among bourbon enthusiasts.
Which Benchmark Bourbon is the Best?
When ranking Benchmark Bourbons, we’re looking at proof, aging, flavor, and value. All of the Benchmark bourbons are a phenomenal value and a great way to consume Buffalo Trace products without dealing with allocations and insane secondary prices.
Ranking Each Benchmark Bottle:
- Benchmark Top Floor
- Benchmark Full Proof
- Benchmark Single Barrel
- Benchmark Bonded
- Benchmark Small Batch
- Benchmark Old No. 8
Benchmark Full Proof packs a punch at over 123 proof, and nearly edged our Top Floor. Bonded and No. 1 are lighter and mix well in cocktails.
For under $20 a bottle, you can’t go wrong with Benchmark. It provides an authentic Kentucky bourbon experience. The value is exceptional.
Benchmark is a good introductory bourbon. It’s an affordable way to explore the category. You can appreciate it neat, on the rocks, or mixed into classic cocktails like an Old Fashioned or Manhattan.
Next time you’re at the liquor store, consider picking up a bottle of Benchmark. Sip it slowly and savor the flavors. Discover for yourself why it’s earned a place in bars and home collections for decades. This high-quality bourbon delivers on taste and price, and gives you the flavor and experience of Buffalo Trace without the price and scarcity.
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