Whiskey Review: Benchmark Old No. 8 Kentucky Straight Bourbon

Introduction

When we first launched the Film & Whiskey podcast, our debut pairing was Goodfellas and Benchmark Old No. 8. We've since revisited Goodfellas (spoiler: Brad still didn’t like it), but never circled back to the whiskey—until now.

Since then, Benchmark has expanded into a full product line, and we’ve reviewed all five of their other offerings. Now we’re coming back to where it all started. At 80 proof (40% ABV), Benchmark Old No. 8 is distilled by Buffalo Trace and blended from barrels across rickhouse floors. It’s not age-stated, but we estimate it's at least three years old. At just $13 in Ohio, it remains one of the most accessible bourbons on the market.

This review is taken from our episode "Anchorman (2004) / Benchmark Bourbon." Click the link to listen to this review in audio format.

Nose

Brad: This nose is very average. It is caramel, there’s some baking spices. Everything is muted about it. There’s a little vanilla. It’s all nice and pleasant—but not a ton going on. 6/10

Bob: I love that they call this “Benchmark.” It’s more like “baseline.” It's a great introductory bourbon to figure out what the normal tasting and nosing notes are. You’re getting some spicy oak, baking spices, clove, nutmeg, and a vanilla-heavy profile. I also get quite a bit of pink bubblegum. It smells sweet and oaky—kind of what you'd expect from a bourbon-scented candle. 6.5/10

Taste

Brad: All of the flavors are a little muted. I might sound pretentious, but we don’t often drink 80-proof whiskey on this podcast anymore. It makes sense that the experience is tamped down. It’s a little sawdusty, some caramel, gets into the black pepper realm. The bubblegum note is a good call here. Overall, just average to below-average. 5.5/10

Bob: Sometimes when we get banana on the nose, it turns into an overripe banana on the palate—sickly sweet. This is that, but with bubblegum. It’s almost medicinal, like kid’s bubblegum-flavored medicine. Then it tips into bitter oak on the back. You get the worst of both sweet and barrel notes. Not awful, but I wonder if the heavy dilution brings out stuff you don’t want. Would it be better at 90 proof? Maybe. 5.5/10

Finish

Brad: The black pepper is there. Vanilla is barely there. It gets oaky—not bad, not great. 5.5/10

Bob: The problem with 80 proof is it’s hard to have a long-lasting finish. It dissipates super quickly. It's not unpleasant, but it's short-lived. 6/10

Balance

Bob: We’re looking for how well nose, taste, and finish work together. This isn’t an up-and-down ride—it’s just mediocre all the way through. 6/10

Brad: Same here. Even if the journey is weird, if it makes sense, that's good balance. Here, it’s smooth across categories, but not compelling. 6/10

Value

Brad: In Ohio, this costs $13. That’s an 8/10 for me. You get what you pay for, and it lines up with expectations. 8/10

Bob: I don’t know of a cheaper, nationally produced bourbon than this. But I also don’t think I like it that much. I’d rather spend $2 more for the Benchmark Top Floor. So even though $13 is great, I think the Top Floor’s the better buy. 6/10

Final Scores

Bob: That brings me to a 30/50. Pretty low, honestly.
Brad: I’m at 31/50. You're getting what you'd expect from a $13 bottle.

Conclusion

With a combined score of 61/100, Benchmark Old No. 8 falls shy of our usual try-or-buy threshold of 70/100. It's not a pour we recommend for sipping neat, but it’s a fine choice for a budget-friendly mixer. If you need something to throw in a Coke or round out your bar cart, nobody’s going to fault you for having Benchmark on hand. Just don’t expect fireworks.