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{{short description|Brand of Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey}}
{{Infobox beverage
{{Infobox beverage
| name = McAfee's Benchmark
| name = McAfee's Benchmark
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| first = Gary
| first = Gary
| authorlink =
| authorlink =
| coauthors = Mardee Haidin Regan
|author2=Mardee Haidin Regan
| title = The Book of Bourbon: And other Fine American Whiskeys
| title = The Book of Bourbon: And other Fine American Whiskeys
| publisher = Houghton Mifflin
| publisher = Houghton Mifflin
Line 26: Line 27:
| doi =
| doi =
| id =
| id =
| isbn = 978-1881527893}}</ref> The full name of the brand that appears on the bottle is "'''McAfee's Benchmark Old No. 8 Brand'''" (with "Benchmark" rendered in much larger letters than the rest). The primary brand expression is an 80 [[U.S. proof]] (40% [[alcohol by volume]]) bourbon aged "at least 36 months" according to its label.
| isbn = 978-1881527893}}</ref> It is an 80 proof bourbon with no age statement.

Three whiskey-based [[liqueur]]s of 70 U.S. proof (35% alcohol by volume) also carry the brand name – one with apple flavoring, one with peach flavoring and the third with brown sugar flavoring.<ref>{{cite web |first=Rob |last=Theakston |title=MacAfee's Benchmark Peach Liqueur |url=http://www.drinkhacker.com/2014/06/24/review-mcafees-benchmark-peach-liqueur/ |website=Drink Hacker |date=June 24, 2014 |accessdate=August 12, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=MaAfee's Benchmark Brown Sugar Liqueur |url=https://www.thewhiskyexchange.com/p/27298/mcafees-benchmark-brown-sugar-liqueur |website=The Whiskey Exchange |accessdate=August 12, 2016}}</ref>


== History ==
== History ==


The Mcafee's Benchmark brand was created by [[Seagram's]] in the late 1960s to be a luxury or premium-level bourbon. At that time, the whiskey was not called McAfee, but simply Benchmark Bourbon; and the name McAfee came much later. Originally Benchmark was sold in a [[decanter]]-style bottle with a black label. It was very good, rich and a little sweet, not complex but satisfying.<ref>Jim Murray reviews two "McAfee's Benchmarks" in his Whiskey Bible 2006</ref>
The Benchmark brand was created by [[Seagram's]] in the late 1960s to be a luxury or premium-level bourbon. At that time, the whiskey was not called McAfee's, but simply '''Benchmark Bourbon'''; and the name McAfee came much later. Originally Benchmark was sold in a [[decanter]]-style bottle with a black label.<ref name="Murray2006">[[Jim Murray (whisky writer)|Jim Murray]] reviews two McAfee's Benchmark expressions in his ''Whiskey Bible'' 2006 edition.</ref>


The Benchmark brand name was purchased by the Sazerac Company in 1989 from Seagram's. It is still owned by Sazerac Brands of New Orleans which also now owns Buffalo Trace distillery in Frankfort, where Benchmark is now made. The origin of the McAfee name is that Hancock McAfee was, in 1775, one of the first European settlers at the site where Buffalo Trace stands today. The original Benchmark was made at Lawrenceburg, KY at the distillery now owned by [[Kirin Brewery Company|Kirin]], when Seagram owned it. This is the [[Four Roses]] Distillery and that famous brand is still made there. Buffalo Trace has packaged McAfee's Benchmark similar to [[Jack Daniel's]] and markets it as a less expensive alternative to the Tennessee Whiskey.<ref>Jim Murray reviews two "McAfee's Benchmarks" in his Whiskey Bible 2006</ref>
The Benchmark brand name was purchased by the Sazerac Company in 1989 from Seagram's. It is still owned by Sazerac Brands of New Orleans which also now owns the Buffalo Trace distillery in Frankfort, where Benchmark is now made. The origin of the McAfee name is that James, George and Robert McAfee (along with James McCoun, Samuel Adams and Hancock Taylor) were, in 1773, the first early American explorers to survey land at the site where Buffalo Trace stands today. The original Benchmark was made at [[Lawrenceburg, Kentucky]] at the Old Prentice Distillery, now known as [[Four Roses]] Distillery (on the Salt River, fittingly located 5 miles north of McAfee, Ky) when Seagram owned it.<ref name=Murray2006/>


==References==
==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{Reflist}}

{{Sazerac Company}}
{{Alcoholic drinks}}


[[Category:Bourbon whiskey]]
[[Category:Bourbon whiskey]]
[[Category:Sazerac Company brands]]

Latest revision as of 09:44, 8 April 2023

McAfee's Benchmark
TypeBourbon whiskey
ManufacturerSazerac Company
Country of origin Kentucky, United States
Alcohol by volume 40.00%
Proof (US)80
Related productsBuffalo Trace

McAfee's Benchmark is a brand of Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey produced by the Sazerac Company at its Buffalo Trace Distillery in Frankfort, Kentucky.[1] The full name of the brand that appears on the bottle is "McAfee's Benchmark Old No. 8 Brand" (with "Benchmark" rendered in much larger letters than the rest). The primary brand expression is an 80 U.S. proof (40% alcohol by volume) bourbon aged "at least 36 months" according to its label.

Three whiskey-based liqueurs of 70 U.S. proof (35% alcohol by volume) also carry the brand name – one with apple flavoring, one with peach flavoring and the third with brown sugar flavoring.[2][3]

History

[edit]

The Benchmark brand was created by Seagram's in the late 1960s to be a luxury or premium-level bourbon. At that time, the whiskey was not called McAfee's, but simply Benchmark Bourbon; and the name McAfee came much later. Originally Benchmark was sold in a decanter-style bottle with a black label.[4]

The Benchmark brand name was purchased by the Sazerac Company in 1989 from Seagram's. It is still owned by Sazerac Brands of New Orleans which also now owns the Buffalo Trace distillery in Frankfort, where Benchmark is now made. The origin of the McAfee name is that James, George and Robert McAfee (along with James McCoun, Samuel Adams and Hancock Taylor) were, in 1773, the first early American explorers to survey land at the site where Buffalo Trace stands today. The original Benchmark was made at Lawrenceburg, Kentucky at the Old Prentice Distillery, now known as Four Roses Distillery (on the Salt River, fittingly located 5 miles north of McAfee, Ky) when Seagram owned it.[4]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Regan, Gary; Mardee Haidin Regan (October 15, 1995). The Book of Bourbon: And other Fine American Whiskeys. Houghton Mifflin. pp. 113, 129. ISBN 978-1881527893.
  2. ^ Theakston, Rob (June 24, 2014). "MacAfee's Benchmark Peach Liqueur". Drink Hacker. Retrieved August 12, 2016.
  3. ^ "MaAfee's Benchmark Brown Sugar Liqueur". The Whiskey Exchange. Retrieved August 12, 2016.
  4. ^ a b Jim Murray reviews two McAfee's Benchmark expressions in his Whiskey Bible 2006 edition.