By Mark Houston | Rapid City Post
RAPID CITY, S.D. – On a recent episode of the Whiskey@Work podcast, co-hosts Mark Houston and Rob Henry kicked off a new tasting series featuring the newly available McAfee Brothers Benchmark Bourbon lineup, now hitting shelves in South Dakota.
The episode focused on two bottles in the three-part series: Benchmark Old No. 8 (80 proof) and Benchmark Top Floor (86 proof). Both are produced at Buffalo Trace using the same low-rye mash bill found in sought-after whiskeys like Eagle Rare, Stagg Jr., and George T. Stagg, but with a much more approachable price tag.
“These are $10 bourbons,” said Houston. “And they’re shockingly good for that.”
Originally introduced by Seagram’s in 1968 as a premium bourbon, Benchmark was designed for drinkers who typically leaned toward Scotch. With sleek decanter-style bottles and a refined flavor profile, the brand aimed high. But when Sazerac acquired the label in the late 1980s, it transitioned Benchmark into the “everyday bourbon” category. Today, it’s produced at the Buffalo Trace Distillery and marketed as an affordable, no-frills pour.
But don’t let the price fool you.
“Top Floor laps the Black Label,” said Rob, noting the richer nose, deeper color, and smoother finish despite just a six-point difference in proof. “Either one is worth grabbing, but if you can only pick one, the Top Floor is the standout.”
Benchmark’s current lineup includes six expressions ranging from 80 to 125 proof, all made with the same mash bill. The difference lies in aging, barrel selection, and warehouse placement. factors that can significantly influence flavor without altering the base ingredients.
“This lineup is adjacent to all the Buffalo Trace favorites everyone’s hunting,” said Houston. “But it’s sitting right there on the shelf for under $20.”
The podcast episode briefly touched on the federal excise taxes distillers face, sparking from a viral TikTok video. But Houston and Rob quickly shifted back to what really matters: how the whiskey tastes and why it’s such a solid value.
Listeners can expect more tasting notes in the coming episodes as Whiskey@Work explores the rest of the Benchmark line, including the Small Batch, Single Barrel, Bonded, and Full Proof expressions. The hosts hinted at comparing these to higher-end Buffalo Trace releases with similar proofs to explore how aging and barrel selection impact taste and value.
The bottom line?
“This is where you start,” said Houston. “If someone’s new to bourbon or wants an affordable daily sipper that still comes from a respected distillery, Benchmark is a heck of a place to begin.”
New episodes of Whiskey@Work drop every Wednesday and are available wherever you get your podcasts.
