Sazerac *adds* an age statement!

[Brisko]

... to Benchmark.

[MauiSon]

Okay, let's round up all the NAS Benchmark we can find now.

[theglobalguy]

I'd sure feel better if the giant number on the front was equal to the age in smaller print on the back.....

[393foureyedfox]

Okay, let's round up all the NAS Benchmark we can find now.

now thats funny!

[Lost Pollito]

... to Benchmark.

Am I missing something? I don't see an age statement.

[Quantum]

On the back label, in small print under the giant 8.

"AGED AT LEAST 36 MONTHS"

[DrBob]

Ouch, Am I right in believing that in some distant past Benchmark "8" was Benchmark Aged 8 years? How long until Charter 8 slips to "aged at least 36 months"

I usually don't drop to the bottom shelf 80 proofers, but perhaps just eliminating those labels altogether when diverting the whiskey to future releases of more expensive labels would be be as effective?

[Brisko]

Ouch, Am I right in believing that in some distant past Benchmark "8" was Benchmark Aged 8 years? How long until Charter 8 slips to "aged at least 36 months"

I usually don't drop to the bottom shelf 80 proofers, but perhaps just eliminating those labels altogether when diverting the whiskey to future releases of more expensive labels would be be as effective?

Not really. They don't want to give up the shelf space, even on the bottom shelf, especially since there is virtually no marketing expense involved.

As far as the label goes, someone with a longer memory than mine would have to chime in about whether it was ever 8 years old. I'm not even sure when Sazerac acquired the brand from Seagram's.

[sku]

I forgot about Benchmark getting the Old Charter/VOB treatment. Yes, it used to be 8 yo. It was acquired by Sazerac in the '90s sometime I think, but it didn't lose the age until ten or 12 years ago.

[upStomp]

Okay, let's round up all the NAS Benchmark we can find now.

My first official *snort* on SB. :slappin:

[Lost Pollito]

On the back label, in small print under the giant 8.

"AGED AT LEAST 36 MONTHS"

Thanks. I totally missed it.

[Brisko]

I forgot about Benchmark getting the Old Charter/VOB treatment. Yes, it used to be 8 yo. It was acquired by Sazerac in the '90s sometime I think, but it didn't lose the age until ten or 12 years ago.

I assume this was after Sazerac acquired it? the '70s Seagram's labels I have seen were six years old.

[Edit]

To answer my own question, some COLA searching turns up an 8 y/o AS in 2000, which looks to have disappeared in 2004. The current (and in my opinion, uglier) label dates from 2008.

Edited January 29, 2014 by Brisko
Added new info

[White Dog]

I can't wait to try the ole "36" brand!

[P&MLiquorsEric]

The newest flavored whiskey products from benchmark lack an age statement.... And a statement that they contain whiskey or bourbon. What is clearly marked is that it is a liqueur with caramel coloring added.

Did I mention that they want this in the bourbon/whiskey section near regular benchmark BOURBON?

Supposedly they have 22 flavors in the pipeline.

[squire]

The Benchmark we got in the early '70s was 6 years old and it was pretty darn good stuff. Introduced to compete with 6 year olds Taylor and Crow, 7 year olds Beam, Ezra, Charter and Yellowstone, all of which were stiff competition. Heady days for Bourbon fans.

So BT has lowered the age and increased the price while making that big ole 8 more prominent. P.T. Barnum would be proud.

[squire]

22 flavors you say? Well, why not, if that's what the people want.

[MyOldKyDram]

Saz n Robbins.

Padpadpadpad

[jonhalter]

If they want to crank out 22 flavors of gns and way to young whiskey, and people buy it, fine by me. I just hope it doesn't come at the expense of farther depleting the aging bourbon that we want. Im for the flavored stuff. Think of all of those people that could be purchasing our spirit of choice. I want them to drink all the faux bourbon they can find.

[393foureyedfox]

If they want to crank out 22 flavors of gns and way to young whiskey, and people buy it, fine by me. I just hope it doesn't come at the expense of farther depleting the aging bourbon that we want. Im for the flavored stuff. Think of all of those people that could be purchasing our spirit of choice. I want them to drink all the faux bourbon they can find.

well, thats certainly an optimistic way to look at it!

ive got no problem with it either, BUT, it doesnt belong on the same shelf as the actual bourbons. Just like all the Beam flavored crap, and all the various honey and maple stuff. liquers have gotten so big lately they need their own space....below the bottom shelf

[P&MLiquorsEric]

If they want to crank out 22 flavors of gns and way to young whiskey, and people buy it, fine by me. I just hope it doesn't come at the expense of farther depleting the aging bourbon that we want. Im for the flavored stuff. Think of all of those people that could be purchasing our spirit of choice. I want them to drink all the faux bourbon they can find.

The good news for you, the flavored "benchmark" products are revolutionary...they don't contain ANY whiskey. GNS with caramel coloring, sugar and flavoring added.

At least the other(Evan Williams, wild turkey) contain some whiskey. For now....

[squire]

Thanks. I totally missed it.

Believe that's the idea.

[weller_tex]

The newest flavored whiskey products from benchmark lack an age statement.... And a statement that they contain whiskey or bourbon. What is clearly marked is that it is a liqueur with caramel coloring added.

Did I mention that they want this in the bourbon/whiskey section near regular benchmark BOURBON?

Supposedly they have 22 flavors in the pipeline.

The fact that people want this crap proves our society is collapsing...geez

[OscarV]

On the back label, in small print under the giant 8.

"AGED AT LEAST 36 MONTHS"

They are just complyng with the law.

Bourbon has to be at least 2 years old and if under 4 it must be stated on the label.

Thank you LBJ!

[sutton]

Should probably start a thread about where bourbon officially jumped the shark ... this is a contender.

[callmeox]

They are just complyng with the law.

Bourbon has to be at least 2 years old and if under 4 it must be stated on the label.

Thank you LBJ!

Bourbon has no minimum age requirement, and if it is less than 4 years old it must be age stated. That's the rub...Benchmark is even younger than before.

Being labeled as straight bourbon is where the 2 year age requirement lies. This distinction causes much confusion.