Basil Hayden Toast Review Archives – Whiskey for the Ages

Brian’s Basil Hayden Toast Review:

reviewed 08-March-2022

BASIL HAYDEN TOAST BOURBON REVIEW:

Released in late 2021, Basil Hayden Toast Bourbon (BH Toast) is the latest addition to the Basil Hayden line-up. Its mash bill is made with brown rice instead of and I am intrigued. Still, at just 80 proof (like all Basil Hayden offerings), this sat on our shelves for about three and a half months before we decided to put it in the review rotation. While this is a simple whiskey, there are some nice nuances and I think it has a place in the bunker … Think gateway bourbon. It definitely will not wow the seasoned drinker and it should NEVER be bought above MSRP, but there are distinct aromas and flavors most novices should be able to detect.

BASIL HAYDEN TOAST VITAL STATS:

Category: Bourbon, Finished Bourbon
Region: Clermont, KY
Distillery: DSP-KY-230 James B. Beam Distilling Co.
Mash Bill: 63% Corn, 27% Brown Rice, 10% Malted Barley (brown rice replaces the typical rye to create a softer, less spicy taste)
Barrel Char: #4
Finishing Barrels: Slowly toasted. Toasted barrels add spice and vanilla notes.
Barrel entry proof: unpublished
Age: nas, an undisclosed portion of the bourbon receives approximately two months of additional aging in the toasted barrels then is reintroduced to the untoasted distillate.
ABV: 40% (80 Proof)
NABCA CSC #: 16685
Price: $49.95 (Idaho, February 2022)
No batch or bottle number identifiers

_{“The latest permanent release from Basil Hayden® consists of an entirely new brown rice mashbill and a secondary finish in toasted barrels. The result is a bourbon with less spice, and deepened notes of sweet caramel with a bright, light mouthfeel.”}
^{— Basil Hayden website}

Learn more at Basil Hayden® Toast Bourbon.

ENJOYMENT METHOD FOR THE REVIEW:

Alternate pours, equaling about four ounces, were added into two Glencairns. My daughter and I enjoyed the bourbon neat for this review.

Check out her review for this bourbon here!

BASIL HAYDEN TOAST NOSE:

The nose of BH Toast is light and while simple, there are aromas I rarely sense in a bourbon … a bit of faint finger nail polish for one, but not so strong it becomes off-putting. I also scent dried field corn, plum, banana and some undefined dried fruit. There is a trace amount of allspice but overall this bourbon smells sweet. I get rich vanilla, caramelized sugar, toasted marshmallows and faint notes of light brown sugar sprinkled over Rice Krispies cereal and cashews. These aromas dance with and around plenty of toasted oak.

BASIL HAYDEN TOAST PALATE:

The first sip of BH Toast presents with an unexpected sour unripe apple mixed with a little light citrus. After I recalibrate to this taste, I get plums and dried figs dusted with powdered ginger and a pinch of black pepper. But as mentioned above, sweetness rules here. Rich vanilla, caramelized sugar and maple syrup enhance faint almond notes. There is also some wood if I take my time. I taste light toasted oak, barrel spice and an earthy note from the barrels in the form of BBQ Applewood smoke. While this bourbon tastes fine, the flavors are quite gentle.

Balance, Body, Feel and Look:
As I nose BH Toast, I see long clinging legs and hanging droplets in the glass. These leave a nice crown above a light russet colored pool. Imagine my surprise when my first sip though soft, smooth and warm left a watery mouthfeel. Of course it is easy to hold but I feel a bit cheated by the display

BASIL HAYDEN TOAST FINISH:

Basil Hayden Toast Bourbon has a short finish with mild warmth owing to the low ABV. As on the nose and palate, dried corn and light citrus pass through as does a hint of faint banana. There is a bit of pepper here too, as well as the rich vanilla, buttery sweet caramel and light toasted oak with the sweet Applewood smoke sensed on the nose and palate. And when the last dram is gone, a balanced perfume of all the aromas and flavors waft from the Glencairn.

MY RATING: 86/100

Will I buy this whiskey again? MAYBE
I would replace an empty bottle only if I were expecting novice guests and I was looking to introduce them to something mild and sweet.
_{Click to read Brian’s scoring process.}

Click 86/100 to review other whiskeys with awarded this score.
To access other whiskies from this brand, click Basil Hayden.

WHISKEY TRAITS, FLAVOR NOTES AND PROFILE GRAPH:

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Hannah’s Basil Hayden Toast Review

Original review written March 8, 2022

GENERAL DESCRIPTION:

Simple, but not a bad addition to the bunker. Nutty, buttery, and definitely unaggressive in terms of alcohol. I do like it, though I don’t think I’ll be pressured to repurchase. 81/100

VITALS:

– Made In: Clermont, Kentucky, USA
– Distiller: Jim Beam Distillery
– Classification: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey; Special Finish
– Age: nas; it is believed an undisclosed portion of the bourbon receives approximately two months of additional aging in the toasted barrels, then is reintroduced to the untoasted distillate.
– Mash Bill: Corn=63%; Brown Rice=27%; Malted Barley=10%
– Casks: Char #4. Finishing barrels are slightly toasted.
– Barrel Entry Proof: unpublished
– ABV: 40% (80 proof)
– Price: $49.95 USD in Idaho 2022

Visit basilhaydenbourbon.com for more information

ENJOYMENT METHOD:

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

Check out his review for this bourbon here!

SETTING:

I imagine enjoying Basil Hayden Toast while anxiously waiting for cookies to cool. The whole house smells warm and rich with flavors, and your mouth is certainly watering. Maybe instead of the customary milk, I’ll pour some of this bourbon to sip with the yummy treat. Dealer’s choice on cookie type, of course ;).

Photo by Lisa Hanly on Unsplash

NOSE:

Almost burnt caramel, molasses, and ginger come across the nose first, the ginger at the end lifting the inhale in freshness. I can find anise as well as some form of baked good that is sweet, if not a little heavy. There isn’t much for fruit, aside perhaps from prunes, and other dried, spiced fruits. Earthy tones do exist in this bourbon, like wheat and almonds, and naturally, toasted wood/barrel.

There is no alcohol burn to be found, and I find myself impressed overall with the nose of this bourbon.

PALATE:

– Mouth Feel: Buttery and perhaps a little watery. I suspect this is from the lower ABV, and it certainly matches the nutty flavor character of the taste.
– Balance: It’s in balance, but I think this is largely between the mouth feel and the taste, as opposed to specific flavors on the palate directly.
– Visual: Russet in color, this has long and lasting legs that cling long after I’ve set the glass down.

– Taste: This bourbon definitely strikes as a Jim Beam product on the initial sip. Nuts abound, from pecans, to the almonds from the nose, to even raw peanuts. There is a distinct lack of alcohol burn to be found, and without it, this bourbon almost seems watery to me. (Please note that most bourbons I pour are frequently above 100 proof, if not closer to 120.) I can hold it on the palate practically indefinitely, and I’m not sure that many more flavors peak out the longer I play with it. The nuts stay strong, if not melting into a buttery consistency. A Kentucky chew coaxes out brown sugar and apples, but does little to aggravate the alcohol.

There is wood here, and again, the best description would be buttery – not exactly what I was expecting from something finished in a toasted barrel. Beyond this simplicity, I am struggling to identify many other flavors, including the heavy sweetness from the nose. There is some vanilla, and maybe a hint of the baked good (cookies?), but it’s subtle. The fruit component has all but disappeared, and the spice is akin to cinnamon that’s gone slightly stale. It tastes fine, but I don’t know if I’m wowed by this.

FINISH:

– Lasting Power: Short. This disappears immediately after the sip is gone. There is a hint of aftertaste; however, it also fades very quickly.
– Between Sips: It doesn’t come as a surprise, but more nuts linger between sips, particularly the buttery ones like walnuts. The walnuts’ bitterness is also present in this aftertaste, along with bitter apple cores. I actually am fond of apples and apple cores even, so this does not bother me.

– No More: This tastes consistent throughout the glass, but I do find myself enjoying it more and more as the glass goes on. The empty Glencairn is strong oak with a hint of spice. It’s actually more aggressive than the taste itself, and I wish the palate itself had more of this harshness.

WORTH THE PRICE?

If you don’t favor heavier proof whiskeys, and don’t mind a little simplicity, I think this one would be well-worth the price. I don’t think I’d be willing to pay $60 for it, but I do believe that Basil Hayden Toast could be a nice addition to anyone’s bunker. If you have friends you’re trying to introduce to bourbon, then consider this one approachable and budget-friendly. I don’t think I’ll be buying again necessary; however, I certainly am not upset to have this. Also note that this is definitely superior to the standard Basil Hayden 8YR (in my opinion).

BASIL HAYDEN TOAST REVIEW RATING: 81/100

Click to see Hannah’s rating process

Click 81/100 to access other whiskeys with this rating.
To access other whiskies from this brand, click Basil Hayden.

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