Benchmark Old No. 8 Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey review

SUPER 8 for the price, you’re getting it!

Benchmark Old No. 8 is made in Buffalo Trace distillery. “Aged at least 36 months” as it says on the label, this young bourbon has made some reputation being “bang for the buck” bourbon. It has even won Gold Medal at the International Spirits Challenge. And I paid only 18 euros for it(!).

For me it wasn’t anything special. I rate Benchmark 8 below average. A bit one sided and too dry for my taste. But not bad, especially for the price tag. Benchmark 8 is like Super 8 by J.J. Abrams and Spielberg. Decent stuff, that hasn’t been recognized as much as their other work.

Made from a combo of more than 50% corn and it really shows. There’s also rye, wheat, malted barley or malted rye grain in the mix. Buffalo Trace is famous for making limited edition whiskeys with big price tags and good quality. But they are good at making good products with small price tags as well. Benchmark bourbon and their regular Buffalo Trace bourbon are great examples of that!

Nose: Corn and honey in a mellow way with sweet and fruity notes.

Taste: Dry leather and hints of fruity notes.

Finish: Corn mash hits you hard with oak and dry fruity notes.

Balance: Robust and sour but decent dram. People have given it a much higher score than I did so for the price you’ll be getting it, it’s a good dram.

Colour: Dark amber
Nose: 20  |  Taste: 20  |  Finish: 19  |  Balance: 20
Overall score: 79 points

Distillery: Buffalo Trace
Region: Frankfort, Kentucky, USA
ABV: 40%

Ralfy scored 87 for Benchmark 8! Remember folks, you won’t get much more cheaper whisky or bourbon for the price of Benchmark 8.