Woodinville Straight Bourbon Whiskey & Benchmark Full Proof
Release Date: 11/17/2025
Blue Note Crossroads & Bernheim Wheat
The Bottom Shelfers
This time we tried something we never tried before, a wheat whiskey! The 51% wheat really came through. A very low-key, easy-sipping experience. I say, "Drink it neat!" Also... Do NOT forget to grab a bottle of the BlueNote Crossroads. Great stuff!
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Peneleope Wheated & 1792 Bottled In Bond
The Bottom Shelfers
A step up for the boys this time. Penelope Wheated & 1792 Bottled In Bond. Both are winners! Stock up for your Holdiay guests! The 1792 BIB struck us both as an especially good choice.
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Woodinville Straight Bourbon Whiskey & Benchmark Full Proof
The Bottom Shelfers
Woodinville is a great everyday bourbon choice. Solid sipper both neat on a rock. The Benchmark Full Proof might be better used as a stain remover or paint thinner. WAY to hot! ...even on ice.
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Benchmark Top Floor & Yellowstone Select
The Bottom Shelfers
We had high hopes for Benchmark Top Floor, but... We both went with 1.5 and were maybe a bit generous. The Yellowstone is pretty good! One caveat though... Rick got it for $30 which makes it a good buy. For Todd at $37, not such a bargain.
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Kentucky Vintage & Remus
The Bottom Shelfers
Neither of us had heard of these two before... The Kentucky Vintage, well... sadly, it's going under the sink. The Remus wasn't too bad at all, but not a big favorite. We took one for the team on this one!
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Episode 21 - Old Bardstown & Benchmark Bonded
The Bottom Shelfers
Heading to a lower shelf set of bourbons this time... Old Bardstown 90 Proof vs. Benchmark Bonded. While the Benchmark #8 did not impress, some of the other expressions - like this one - are pretty good!
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Bowman Brothers Small Batch & Eagle Rare
The Bottom Shelfers
Got a pair of 90-proofers this time around. LOTS of similarities between these two... The biggest difference is the rye spice in Bowmans. We both called these "classic mid-tier" bourbons. Both have a great mouth feel with the edge going to Eagle Rare. We recommend the Bowmans neat and the Eagle with a big cube. Two winners here!
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Smoked Bourbon! Benchmark #8 & Woodson
The Bottom Shelfers
The Bottom Shelfers have a theory... Using a smoker (from ) it is possible to turn mediocre - or even bad - whiskey into something quite palatable. Rick has been a fan for quite some time. FINALLY, Todd gives it a try!
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Woodson & 13th Colony
The Bottom Shelfers
An Independence Day special!!! Woodson, a 6-month "accelerated-aged" Kentucky Bourbon was... eh..., but the 13th Colony was quite a pleasant surprise. Not exactly true bottom shelf picks, but the GA product is a winner in any case.
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Tin Cup & Breckenridge
The Bottom Shelfers
The Tin Cup cup hexagonal bottle with the literal tin cup lid is very cool. That said, it's a 1. It's going under the sink. Not offensive by any means, but unremarkable. The Breckenridge was a good bit better, but only earned a 2 rating. Rick & Todd are warning you away from these two. Although if you find Breckenridge for $25 or so, that would be a decent buy. Oh.... Here's a link to Todd's choice for a !
info_outlineWoodinville is a great everyday bourbon choice. Solid sipper both neat on a rock. The Benchmark Full Proof might be better used as a stain remover or paint thinner. WAY to hot! ...even on ice.