BOTM: 4/12 Benchmark Old No. 8

[thezenone]

Wasn't a big fan of this when I last had it. I ended up infusing it with bacon fat and making some "breakfast old fashioneds" with it which was delicious.

[Enoch]

Did a flight of 3+ decades of Benchmark:

A. ~1979 86 proof - Louisville
B. ~1990 80 proof - NOLA
C. ~1999 80 proof - Frankfort (McAfee's)
D. Current 80 proof - Frankfort (McAfee's Old No. 8 Brand)


You can see the picture in the general discussion forum: Spring enjoy...


(I wish we could post pictures in this forum. It would help when distinguishing between variants.)


Ranked in order of enjoyment:


A. ~1979 86 proof - Louisville (Way, way, way above the other three!!!)
C. ~1999 80 proof - Frankfort (McAfee's) (drinkable)
D. Current 80 proof - Frankfort (McAfee's Old No. 8 Brand) (mixable)
B. ~1990 80 proof - NOLA (nasty - I don't think this is Seagram's juice.)

It is interesting that B, C, and D are quite available in the Columbia area. I picked up all three this week.

I will always buy the Seagram's version when I find it. It's one of my favorites. But I will not replace the other three. (Probably give to my daughter's friends.)

MHO

[Young Blacksmith]

That bumps my time line for the NOLA bottle I have up quite a bit. It's shaped like your Louisville one, short, squat, with the big bottom.

No need for nasty bourbon to take up valuable bunker space!

[Josh]

That bumps my time line for the NOLA bottle I have up quite a bit. It's shaped like your Louisville one, short, squat, with the big bottom.

Sounds like a girl I was dating around that time.

[Young Blacksmith]

NOLA dusty bottle, paid a little under $11 for it. Not sure of the age, but it looks like the fat bottom bottles in Enoch's post. Sazerac bar code and govt. warning.

Smells sweet, nice, basic bourbon nose. Nothing special. a touch of citrus?
Taste is OK, again nothing special, very little alcohol burn, sweet, sugary, a touch of vanilla, but just a dab.
Finishes nicely though, a tingle on the tongue that lingers for a while, a warming in the belly.
Vaguely reminds me of 4 roses, mostly on the nose,
I've had both worse and better, and will not search this out again, but glad I tried it. Luckily I know there are two more at a store not far from here. When I forget what this is like, I'll see if it's still there.

[Edward_call_me_Ed]

I saw some one liter bottles of this a few minutes ago and decided to buy one. I had never had it so I searched it here and find the BOTM! I haven't posted here in more than a year. I don't find anything offensive about it. Not a great bourbon, but drinkable. I'm not much for tasting notes, but I get oak backed by a nice sweetness, maybe a little vanilla. It tastes young and the alcohol is a bit hot for 80 proof. I'd say it is a decent value pour. And you could probably kill weeds with it, too.

PS Come over to the Baseball thread in Off Topic!