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: $50
Appearance: Amber
Nose: Caramel, vanilla, reminds me of the candy Cow Tales. Slight oak. Not getting any scent of smoke at all. Maybe we’ll get it on the palate.
Palate: An interesting blend of flavors here. I do get a bit of the subtle smoke, but more in the sense of ordering a Smoke Stack cocktail where the wood chips are burned and the smoke adds a very slight smoked wood flavor. The bottle mentions that this whiskey is finished in hickory smoked, new charred oak barrels which I can definitely tell added this subtle smoke flavor. It does add a nice layer to the whiskey that I appreciate on top of the normal caramel and vanilla flavors of Basil Hayden.
Finish: Medium to long finish with light smoke and oaky flavor lingering for a while. The finish is much better than the standard Basil Hayden.
Is Basil Hayden Subtle Smoke Approachable?
While the Basil Hayden Subtle Smoke is relatively easy to drink, I wouldn’t really say it’s approachable. This bottle is a bottle for someone who is already familiar with whiskey and is looking for a unique bottle to experience.
Is Basil Hayden Subtle Smoke Complex?
Basil Hayden Subtle Smoke is a somewhat complex whiskey. It has its base layer of caramel, vanilla, and oak flavors, but adds an additional layer of light smokiness. I wouldn’t quite say it’s a complex whiskey because it’s still on the light end of whiskeys, but it does have a uniqueness in its flavor profile.
What are Basil Hayden Subtle Smoke’s strongest attributes/flavors?
The subtle smoke is this one’s strongest attribute. It’s not something many people will notice if you just poured them a glass, but if you’re really breaking down the layers of the whiskey, this is definitely a bottle I would use if I were looking to emulate the effects of a true smoke stack cocktail. Rather than having to smoke the wood chips to add the flavor, I do think this bottle would be an option to add just a hint of smokiness to your old-fashioned.
Is Basil Hayden Subtle Smoke a go-to whiskey?
This is not really a go-to whiskey. If you are looking for smokey whiskey, there are plenty of better options. I can see why Basil Hayden wanted to market this edition into their lineup, but if you’re looking for a smokey whiskey, I would definitely lean more in the direction of buying a scotch like Laphroaig, Ardbeg, or Bruichladdich’s Port Charlotte.
Is Basil Hayden Subtle Smoke priced accurately to its quality?
At the $50 price point, I don’t think Basil Hayden Subtle Smoke really lives up to the price tag. I’m not disappointed in purchasing this one and it is one of my favorites in the Basil Hayden lineup, but it just doesn’t live up to the smokiness of classic scotches like Laphroaig and Ardbeg.
I hope you enjoyed this tasting experience with me.
Feel free to enjoy our Complete Basil Hayden Line Up Comprehensive Review where we review every bottle from Basil Hayden and break down which bottles we enjoy most.
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