Whiskey Review: Benchmark Single Barrel Bourbon

This week, we’re reviewing Benchmark Single Barrel, the third release in Buffalo Trace’s line of affordable Benchmark bourbons. At 95 proof and priced at $25, it’s the most expensive of the series so far—but can it justify that price?

After the Benchmark Small Batch disappointed us, we were cautiously optimistic that the Single Barrel could turn things around. But there’s a caveat: single barrels can vary widely. What’s in your bottle might not be what we tasted. That inconsistency is part of why we usually avoid reviewing single barrels, especially when they’re proofed down instead of being released at full strength. Still, with other bourbons like Russell’s Reserve showing how great lower-proof single barrels can be, we dove in hoping for a surprise.

Spoiler: we didn’t find one.

The following review is taken from our episode "Gran Torino/Benchmark Single Barrel." Click the link to listen to this review in audio format.

Nose

Brad:
I picked up sour apple, a light (not dark) brown sugar, and a noticeable ethanol bite. It reminded me of a caramel apple sucker, but without the sweetness to balance it. 5.5/10

Bob:
At first pour, I got an artificial caramel note—like a store-bought topping. That quickly gave way to green apple Jolly Rancher, masked by heavy oak and ethanol. It’s not offensive, but it’s not inviting either. 6/10

Palate

Brad:
The palate took a step down. That same sour green apple note carried over, but now with a flat, corny undertone. It lacks richness or complexity. 5/10

Bob:
This drinks like the LaCroix version of a Jolly Rancher: flavored by suggestion only. There’s a big hit of green apple and ethanol, but not much else. It mimics spice without actually offering any. Compared to Benchmark Top Floor, which had depth and character, this one feels hollow. I also got an intense Kentucky hug, bordering on heartburn. The alcohol presence overwhelms any nuance. 6/10

Finish

Brad: That's why for me, I gave the finish a 5.5/10. It's almost like it soured on my palate. The tart almost sour apple continues on through to the end. A little bit of vanilla. It’s not a terrible finish, but it's not great.

Bob: I just don't think that's really present while you're drinking it. And the finish is almost non-existent except for that Kentucky hug to remind you of what you've just been drinking. There's nothing left on my palate except for some very, very subtle corn and oak. I'm just going to give it like a 5/10 on the finish.

Balance

Brad: For balance, I'll give it a 5/10 as well. It's just average all around and there's not enough complexity and not enough good flavors here to give it any higher of a score.

Bob: I'm going to give it a 5.5/10. I always feel bad giving anything a five or less, just because we so rarely actually go under the halfway mark on our scores, Brad. It's really rare that you get less than a 25/50. If you age a whiskey to four years and put it in a bottle and it gets to us, it's at least a 50/100 most times. 

Value

And that brings us to Value. At $25, this is a terrible value. When you can get the Benchmark Top Floor for $15, which is looking better and better in my mind, this one is a 3/10.

Brad: That's what I gave it as well. 3/10.

Bob:  I will say to get a Single Barrel bourbon at $25 is pretty much unheard of, but that's why this is a $25 Single Barrel bourbon. This would not be good enough to bottle under any of Buffalo Trace's other labels as a single barrel, and they just slapped "Benchmark" on it to indicate value.

Final Scores

I'm coming out to a 25.5/50. 

Brad: With that three out of 10 on value, I'm coming to a 24/50.

Bob: All right. So we are just at a 49.5/100, so we actually are under that 50 mark or, on average, a 24.75/50. I am not going to recommend buying, I am not going to recommend trying, with the small caveat that this is a single barrel, so I have no idea what the variation between barrels looks like for a product like Benchmark, where they're going for value above all else.

Brad: Yeah, I think that it's safe to say that this is a reject from some other lineup and that there's just other really great values in the Benchmark six that are worth picking. I mean, if I'm being very blunt with you, Bob, I think I would prefer to drink $10 Benchmark over this.

Bob: I probably would too. They're at least comparable enough that it gets me a little angry to think about the fact that Benchmark and this are similar, and there's a $15 difference in price.