Crafted in 1992 by Booker Noe as part of the Small Batch collection, Basil Hayden Bourbon is inspired by 1792 whiskey pioneer Meredith Basil Hayden, Sr., who used a high percentage of rye in his bourbon. Produced by The James B. Beam Distillery Co. in Kentucky, this bourbon continues that tradition with a mash bill comprising 63% corn, 27% rye and 10% malted barley.
Nostalgia will always allow me to hold a soft spot in my heart for Basil Hayden’s, but like many nostalgic things in life, it’s sometimes best to leave them to memory versus trying to recapture that initial magic.
Basil Hayden’s Bourbon isn’t a bad whiskey, it is a bad value. For $26 less you can get Old Grand-Dad 114 and that is a significantly better expressions of the Jim Beam high-rye mashbill.
Everything works together perfectly well in the spirit. From the aroma in the glass to the smooth and layered finish, which lifts away all of Basil’s characters one by one, finishing with a silky, smoky character, this is a widely available and reasonably affordable bourbon that sets a high bar at this price point.
Basil Hayden's makes a great entry-way for drinkers new to bourbon, or trying to train their palates to drink bourbon neat. Its price makes that a tough sell.
On the palate, it's light at first, showing vanilla and honey, and winds into deeper, rounded notes of cocoa and hazelnut. Splash in ginger ale for a highball and sip all night long.
