Get The Iconic Jack Daniel's Taste For Nearly Half The Price With This Alternative - Tasting Table

"Both are bottled at 80 proof and use a low-rye mash bill, which makes for a sweeter, easier drinking experience. However, their production techniques are a little different, given that one is made in Kentucky and the other in Tennessee."

"Jack Daniel's famously undergoes charcoal mellowing through the "Lincoln County Process," which smooths the whiskey before aging. In fact, this exact process was codified into a 2013 law in order for any product to be labeled Tennessee whiskey. Benchmark obviously skips this step because it's a Kentucky bourbon rather than a Tennessee whiskey."

"A standard 750mL bottle of Benchmark Old No. 8 often sells for as low as $10, making it dramatically cheaper than many mainstream whiskeys. That affordability is exactly why it's often recommended to drinkers looking for a Jack Daniel's flavor at half the price."

"Despite its bargain-basement price, this bourbon has a surprisingly respectable flavor profile. In our guide to Benchmark bourbon whiskey, drinkers picked up vanilla, caramel, and light hints of spice, with a faint fruitiness lingering behind. Some reviewers also detected subtle tobacco, oak, or leather undertones."

Benchmark Old No. 8 Bourbon, produced at Buffalo Trace Distillery, serves as an affordable alternative to Jack Daniel's Tennessee whiskey. Both whiskeys share structural similarities, including 80 proof bottling and low-rye mash bills that create sweeter, approachable drinking experiences. The primary difference lies in production methods: Jack Daniel's undergoes charcoal mellowing through the Lincoln County Process before aging, while Benchmark skips this step as a Kentucky bourbon. This results in a slightly less polished but still accessible spirit. Benchmark's most significant advantage is its price point, typically selling for around $10 per 750mL bottle. Despite its affordability, the bourbon delivers a respectable flavor profile featuring vanilla, caramel, light spice, and subtle undertones of tobacco, oak, or leather.

Read at Tasting Table