Individual Review: Basil Hayden's

Opening Statement (Description of the Whiskey):

Basil Hayden's is a Kentucky straight bourbon whiskey It is produced by James B. Beam Distilling Co. (more commonly referred to as Jim Beam). This whiskey used to have an age statement of 8 years, but that was removed in 2014. It was first introduced to the market in 1992 by Jim Beam's Master Distiller Booker Noe as part of the distillery's Small Batch Collection. This bourbon is a tribute to Meredith Basil Hayden, Sr., who was a rye farmer from Maryland. He moved to Kentucky in the late 1700s and began producing bourbon with a higher percentage of rye than was generally used in that era. True to form, Basil Hayden's is created using a high rye mash bill. According to the Basil Hayden's website, Noe created this bourbon in the hopes that it would be an inviting gateway into the world of whiskey for those unfamiliar with the spirit.

Parent Company: Beam Suntory

Distillery & Bottling Company: Jim Beam

Mash Bill: 63% Corn, 27% Rye, and 10% Malted Barley

Proof: 80

Age: At Least 4 Years

Direct Examination (AKA Tasting Notes):

Nose: Allspice, Vanilla, Gala Apple, Brown Sugar, Very Light Ethanol, and Corn

Palate: Vanilla, Tobacco, and Buttery Biscuit

Finish: Short Length, Butterscotch, Cinnamon, Cocoa, and Barrel Tannins

Mouth Feel: Thin

Cross Examination (AKA The Whiskey's Shortcomings):

Bold flavor and a reasonable price tag.

Closing Statements (AKA Conclusions about the Whiskey): The first note on the nose is a gentle allspice intermingled with an extremely soft vanilla. After a good deal of exploration, quiet flavors of gala apples and brown sugar finally reveal themselves. The nose is rounded out with a minuscule hint of ethanol and corn. The nose is very inviting, sweet, and sets up high expectations for the palate.

The palate is very sweet and friendly right out the gate. The vanilla from the nose becomes more apparent, but not by much. Herbal tobacco quickly follows what little vanilla there is. The palate ends with a smooth buttery biscuit note.

The finish's length is about as short as can be found on a whiskey. A fleeting sweet butterscotch starts the finish. Spices of cinnamon and cocoa are the next flavors. The finish comes to a not so dramatic close with an ever so slight note of bitter barrel tannins.

Basil Hayden's has so much potential, but all of its notes (with the exception of the allspice on the nose) feel exponentially muted. This is no doubt due to the fact it has been watered down to the lowest proof possible to still legally be considered whiskey at bottling. This was one of the first whiskeys that introduced me to drinking bourbon neat. I remember thinking that it burned going down, which I now find hilarious. Today, having tried countless whiskeys over many years, I find that Basil Hayden's has one of the most muted profiles I have ever experienced for a whiskey that is meant to stand on its own rather than in a cocktail. The flavors all all there, however, it takes an exorbitant amount of searching to find them. Nonetheless, Basil Hayden's is very smooth going down to the point where one almost forgets there alcohol in it.

Basil Hayden's can be found for ~$35 if one is lucky and it is on sale. $35 is a high price in my opinion for such a watered down bourbon, and more often than not I see it for $40 or more on the shelf. There are other comparable "beginner" whiskeys that are less expensive and more flavorful (see my review of Classic Maker's Mark as just one example). That is not to say this whiskey is bad. It is very easy to drink and has a delicious nose. However, it likely will not appeal to most seasoned whiskey enthusiasts. All that being said, I think Booker Noe achieved what he set out to do: create a friendly product that would to appeal to whiskey novices (even if it is overpriced).

Verdict (AKA Score): 6

Verdict Key: 10: I do not possess the vocabulary to adequately or accurately describe this masterpiece. It should not be possible for man to create such art. 9: Incredible. Hoard this stuff. Paying secondary market prices is totally worth it. 8: A real pleasure to sip. Always try to have at least one bottle and a back up on hand. 7: A solid pour. Daily drinker for sure. Try to have a bottle on hand. 6: Would not say no to a pour if offered to me, but I won't go out of my way to find it. 5: Good to mix with a coke. 4: Swing and a miss. A mixer makes it tolerable. 3: Only if I had nothing else to drink in the house. 2: Was this made in a prison toilet? 1: This is the stuff the KGB used to slowly and painfully kill prisoners. 0: An abomination of epic proportions. Should not be called whiskey.