Category: Bourbon Whiskey

Hannah’s Basil Hayden’s Bourbon Review

Original review written November 23, 2019

GENERAL DESCRIPTION:

Booker’s is one of my favorite veins of bourbon. Given that Basil’s is Booker’s little brother under Jim Beam, I was excited for this. But man, this was a let-down and disappointment. 68/100

VITALS:

– Made in: Kentucky, USA
– Distiller: Jim Beam Distillery
– Classification: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
– Age: 8 yrs.
– Mash Bill: Corn=63%; Rye=27%; Malted Barley=10%
– Casks: Char #4
– Barrel Entry Proof: undisclosed
– ABV: 40% (80 proof)
– Price: $39.95 USD in Idaho

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ENJOYMENT METHOD:

I enjoyed the juice neat from a Glencairn glass with father and fellow Whiskey for the Ages reviewer, Brian.

Check out his review for this bourbon here!

SETTING:

It’s planting season and the skies are murky and gray with an impending thunderstorm. You’re out in the middle of a vast plot of fertile land, surrounded by churned earth, prepared for growth.

Photo by Ethan Air on Unsplash

NOSE:

Heavy rye and yeast on even the first inhale, leading me to think of rye bread. There’s a smoke component here as well, backing up some bitter chestnuts. At only 80 proof, an experienced whiskey drinker CANNOT get hurt on the nose, no matter how much you provoke it. (Note: I am still waiting for my glass to warm.)

I also get black pepper and must which leads up to this ominous feeling akin to dark beer (like a porter). There’s maybe a dark molasses for sweetness, but it seems a little off.

It doesn’t smell like a tradition bourbon to me BUT it does smell like Jim Beam. Confusing… All in all, not my flavor profile for sure, but I’m open to it at this juncture.

PALATE:

– Mouth Feel: That’s water. Not cool, Jim. Not. Cool.
– Balance: I’d say average. I’m not blown away.
– Visual: Tawny colored with droplets that quickly morph to short, short-lived legs.

– Taste: Honestly, the mouth feel is very hard for me to get around. There’s just no grip. And I think this then makes the bourbon very bland to me. There is earth here, but it’s like dirt. Just a neutral flavor that leaves me pretty bored.

The time between sips is the most exciting, as there are at least some wood chips that stick around in the most mild of ways. But there is no warmth or richness to keep it company.

A Kentucky chew (with a BIG sip) earns the most flavor, with black pepper and a touch of caramel. But it’s gone in a second. I credit the departure to the mouth feel and low proof.

I’m not mad… just disappointed.

FINISH:

– Lasting Power: I’m sad to say that there is none. I get a wood chip and dirt in the smallest quantity…

– No More: Searching for a fruit the further I get into the glass, if I squint, I might see a golden delicious apple that’s chopped and had its flavor baked out of it. That sounds disparaging, but that’s me throwing it a bone. Only attainable with a Kentucky chew.

This bourbon improves dramatically as you go. But it started at basically zero and even with its improvements, it is nowhere near the $40 price tag in quality.

The empty Glencairn brings the alcohol a bit more forward, but the oak is STILL subtle.

This isn’t a bad bourbon, but it just doesn’t quite make the grade (which would be a 70 for me). I’d give another variant of Basil Hayden’s a shot, but not this one.

WORTH THE PRICE?

No

RATING: 68/100

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To access other whiskies from this brand, click Basil Hayden.

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