Benchmark Single Barrel Bourbon Review

McAfee Brothers
Benchmark
Single Barrel
Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
95 Proof
Distilled, Aged & Bottled by Buffalo Trace Distillery
MSRP: $24.99
Review

Please enjoy our Benchmark Single Barrel Bourbon Review!

McAfee Brothers Benchmark Single Barrel Bourbon is one of the five bourbons that is part of the Benchmark Bourbon Collection that made its debut in late 2020. (Click the link for more background information)

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McAfee Brothers Benchmark Single Barrel Bourbon

According to the Benchmark Single Barrel Bourbon label: “Only the best barrels are selected and bottled at 95 proof for this special Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey. While every barrel is unique, each reflects the utmost standard for the finest taste and most smooth finish with every pour.”

The Highest Priced in the Benchmark Line

As McAfee Brothers Benchmark Single Barrel Bourbon is one of the higher, if not the highest, priced in the Benchmark Bourbon Collection line, that would be a good thing! As we know, all single barrels are different, but I am sure there is one consistent flavor profile that Buffalo Trace is going for with this bourbon. So we expect some similarities with the others in the line, but some differences, too.

Tasting Notes – Benchmark Single Barrel Bourbon

Let’s taste it:

🛌 Rested for 15 minutes in a Glencairn

👉Nose: Pears, cherry candy, caramel, light cinnamon; light rye spices; moderate alcohol
👉Taste: Apples, caramel, cinnamon
👉Finish: White pepper and cinnamon spice build into the finish, with some dry woodiness later on; not much of a burn, but a nice warmth lingers on

Pears, cherry candy and caramel up front get joined by a nice amount of cinnamon, and later, white pepper spice. The flavors pleasantly linger, however there is some dryness and dry wood towards the end. However the dryness seems less pronounced than in the small batch and Benchmark 8. The pear-forwardness of the Single Barrel “singles” it out from the rest the bourbons in the McAfee Brothers Benchmark line, which have either apples or cherry candy as their lead fruit flavor.

Conclusion

McAfee Brothers Benchmark Single Barrel Bourbon is definitely a bit different from the others in the line. Even though it is the most expensive, the price differential is not great, and you can get a nice bourbon for around 25 bucks. While my personal favorites of the line are the Full Proof and Bonded, yours might be different. There’s something for everyone in the Benchmark Bourbon Collection. That’s what makes this line of bourbons so great!

Have you tried this, or any of the other bourbons in the Benchmark Bourbon Collection? What did you think? Cheers!

We hope you have enjoyed our Benchmark Single Barrel Bourbon Review! If you haven’t already, read about the other bourbons in this line in our Mcafee Brothers Benchmark Bourbon Collection post, or read some of our individual reviews: Benchmark Top Floor Bourbon Review, Benchmark Full Proof Review & Benchmark Bonded Bourbon Review.

Would you like to learn more about distilleries and bourbon? Are you planning a trip to Kentucky Distilleries? Maybe you would like to live the bourbon life vicariously through us? If any of these are true, then check out BourbonObsessed.com today!