Distillery: James B. Beam Distilling Company
Region: Frankfurt, Kentucky
Aging: It was originally aged 8 years, but in 2014, the age statement changed to “Artfully aged” which means that there is no guarantee on how long it has been aged.
ABV: 40%
Proof: 80
Price: $45
Basil Hayden Whiskey Tasting Notes
Appearance: Gold
Nose: Sweet and buttery with a bit of caramel and toffee. Light vanilla notes mixed with apricot or dried fruits.
Palate: Spice and pepper up front with a bit of sweet sugar and toffee with a bit of oak. Not a ton of heat.
Finish: The finish is quick and smooth without much heat. You’re left with mostly a sweet and slightly peppery finish.
Is Basil Hayden Approachable?
Basil Hayden is quite approachable. With the finish being quick without a ton of heat, it is an easy whiskey to drink. Beginners will appreciate the sweeter flavors, but also notice the spicy pepper kick on initial tasting.
Is Basil Hayden Complex?
Basil Hayden is not the most complex whiskey, but it does have a couple of layers. You definitely get the layer of sweet, sugary, toffee flavors. There isn’t a ton of oak flavor in this one, likely due to the fact that there is no age statement so it may not have been aged in barrels for long. You also get a good layer of pepper and spice which is what I didn’t expect to find in this one.
What are Basil Hayden’s strongest attributes/flavors?
Basil Hayden definitely has pepper and spice-forward flavors. That was the initial flavor I noticed on my first sip. I expect just sweet and sugary since it’s a bourbon, but the mix of spice added an additional layer.
Is Basil Hayden a go-to whiskey?
Basil Hayden could easily be a go-to whiskey. It’s very approachable and it would be a great bottle to take to a party where you aren’t sure whether people enjoy whiskey. Beginners will enjoy it and not be turned off by too many bold flavors. It also goes down quite easily without a lot of burn on the finish making it quite easy to reach for another glass.
Is Basil Hayden priced accurately to its quality?
Basil Hayden is probably a bit overpriced for its quality. It’s a bit light on the flavors for a $45 bottle. It doesn’t stand above other bourbons at a cheaper price point like Old Forester or Four Roses.
It does have excellent bottling and presentation. If you’re heading to a party and want to impress people with a bottle that is a step up from your standard general bourbon bottle, I would certainly recommend Basil Hayden.
I’ve been to many events where people are impressed with the bottle and become quite curious about whiskey very quickly.
Another good choice may be to upgrade to the Basil Hayden Dark Rye. It costs $5 more but has maple syrup and dark fruit flavors that I think warrant the additional price and present a much more unique whiskey.
And if you’re looking for the best option from Basil Hayden, you could keep an eye out for the Basil Hayden 10 Year. I found it to be far superior to the standard base-level bottle.
I hope you enjoyed this tasting experience with me.
Let Us Know What You Think
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