If someone asked me where to start with bourbon—and they only wanted to spend about $100—I’d point them straight to Benchmark. Forget the 80-proofer, but grab the other five bottles in the line, and you’ve got yourself a small whiskey shelf that punches far above its price tag. At Shores, all five come in just under $108 including tax. That’s five bottles for just over a Benjamin. That’s not just a good value—that’s the definition of Bourbon Cheapskate.

Here’s what you get for your money:

Benchmark Top Floor — $14.99 | 86 proof | Score: 64.1

Straw-to-honey in color, this one greets you with light oak, caramel, vanilla, and maybe a hint of apple. On the palate, the vanilla, caramel, and brown sugar hold steady with a touch of leather. The finish is mild, led by baking spice and caramel. A simple starter, but perfectly drinkable at the price.

Benchmark Small Batch — $16.99 | 90 proof | Score: 67.4

More character shows up here. The nose leans into leather and tobacco with cinnamon and apples trailing behind. Proof makes a bigger statement, and cinnamon and apples really shine on the palate and linger into a more substantial finish.

Benchmark Single Barrel — $24.99 | 95 proof | Score: 75.3

Now we’re talking. Light amber in color, it’s bursting with cinnamon-apple sweetness layered over vanilla, oak, and brown sugar. The palate is like biting into a caramel-coated cinnamon apple—warm, creamy, and surprisingly rich for a bottom-shelf label. The finish stays satisfying, keeping that cinnamon-apple glow alive.

Benchmark Bonded — $19.99 | 100 proof | Score: 78.2

Amber in color and bold on the nose, this one cranks up the fruit notes—apples, cherries, vanilla, cinnamon, even a whiff of fresh bread. The palate balances oak with brown sugar, cherries, and vanilla, wrapped in a silky mouthfeel. The finish has enough baking spice to keep you reaching for another pour.

Benchmark Full Proof — $22.99 | 125 proof | Score: 81.6

This is the crown jewel of the lineup. Copper in color, it starts with chocolate, caramel, nutmeg, and brown sugar on the nose. At 125 proof, you’d expect it to blast you, but the heat is surprisingly manageable. The oak and baking spice make their presence known, but the silky mouthfeel builds into a long, satisfying finish where chocolate, caramel, and spice dominate.

Final Thoughts

Any one of these bottles would be worth owning on its own merits. Taken together, they’re a masterclass in how to build a whiskey shelf on a budget. Each pour gets progressively better, and the Bonded and Full Proof can stand tall even in blind tastings against bottles two or three times the price.

Bottom line: if you want to start a bourbon collection—or just want to maximize your whiskey dollar—you can’t do better than Benchmark’s five-bottle lineup. Spend the $108. Clear a spot on your shelf. You won’t regret it.

Copyright © 2025 Doug DeBolt.