Benchmark Full Proof Bourbon Whiskey

Benchmark Full Proof is a 750ml Kentucky straight bourbon bottled at a full 125 proof (62.5% ABV) — the same proof the whiskey entered the barrel at. Made by Buffalo Trace Distillery, it skips the usual dilution and delivers bourbon at barrel-strength honesty, at a price that makes it one of the best values in high-proof bourbon.

"Full proof" is not marketing speak: it means the whiskey was cut with nothing before bottling, so you get the exact character the barrel produced. That makes it a powerhouse for cocktails — an Old Fashioned or Manhattan built on Benchmark Full Proof keeps its structure where a standard 80-proofer would fade — and a rewarding slow sipper for drinkers who like to add their own water. For the price, nothing else from the Buffalo Trace family drinks this big.

Tasting notes: Deep amber; bold aromas of brown sugar, dark chocolate, and caramel with baking spice behind; a full, chewy palate of toffee, cocoa, and oak; a long, rich, warming finish.

How to serve: Neat with a splash of water to open it up, on a large cube, or as the backbone of a spirit-forward cocktail.

Frequently asked questions:

What does "full proof" mean? The bourbon is bottled at the same proof it entered the barrel — 125 proof here — with no water added after aging. It is the distillery's undiluted expression of that whiskey.

Is Benchmark made by Buffalo Trace? Yes. Benchmark is a Buffalo Trace Distillery brand, and Full Proof is its barrel-entry-proof bottling.

Is full proof too strong for cocktails? Quite the opposite — high-proof bourbon holds up to bitters, vermouth, and dilution better than lower-proof pours, so your cocktails keep their character to the last sip.