Basil Hayden’s is one of four Bourbons that makeup Beam’s Small Batch Bourbon Collection. Baker’s, Knob Creek and Booker’s round out the Small Batch Collection with Basil Hayden’s being the lightest of the four Bourbons coming in at 80 proof, which makes it a fantastic Bourbon for those who are new to Bourbon and want to take a measured approach to their tasting journey.

Company: Beam Suntory

Distillery: Kentucky Springs Distilling Company (James B. Beam Distilling), Clermont Kentucky

Cask: New American oak, light char

Mash bill: Undisclosed high rye; common speculation is 63% corn, 27% rye, 10% malted barley

Released: 1992, ongoing

Proof: 80 (40% ABV)

Aged: No age statement; age is at least 4 years due to labeling rules; thought to be 8 years or less

MSRP: $40 

Awards: Double Gold, 2020 San Francisco World Spirits Competition; Silver Medal, 2020 International Spirits Challenge

Overall Rating: (out of 5)

Tasting Notes

Color: A pale caramel to a copper gold, the color is appropriate to the whiskey’s suspected age sitting on new oak.

Nose: A mild, balanced, uncomplicated nose with an upfront emphasis on cooked fruit, oak and vanilla. The lower ABV likely contributes to the subtlety of the aroma. Revisiting after the whiskey sits in the glass increases the presence of vanilla, oak and citrus.

Palate: At the front of the palate, it takes a bit to warm up and expose the medium dry tannic bite and rye spice, opening with light wood and orange notes. As it expands, you find notes of peach and vanilla. On the midpalate, it’s quite light, but there’s a bit of chewiness that at a higher proof might be more detectable. Toward the back of the throat, oak, black pepper, and vanilla and orange marmalade dominate.

Finish: Despite the proof, there’s a longish finish, though when it vanishes, it vanishes. Here, the spice of the rye component becomes more pronounced with a fruit-smoke-oak overtone.