Review of Basil Hayden Cognac Cask Reserve Bourbon

 

I will go out on a limb and state that anyone who knows even a smidge about American whiskey has heard of Jim Beam. What takes a bit more knowledge is that it makes so much more than Jim Beam Bourbon. One of those brands is called Basil Hayden.

 

Basil… that's kind of a strange name, right? What does it mean?

 

Basil Hayden was a real person and a prominent distiller who used an atypically high rye content in his Bourbon. He had a son, Basil Hayden, Jr., who had a son, Raymond Hayden. Raymond opened a distillery in 1840 called Old Grand-Dad, named for his grandfather, Basil Sr. The distillery was one of a handful allowed to produce medicinal whiskey during Prohibition.

 

Now, Old Grand-Dad wasn't originally part of the Beam brand. That changed in 1987, when National Distillers, one of several owners, sold the brand to Fortune Brands, which later became Beam, Inc. (and later, Beam-Suntory). After acquiring Old Grand-Dad, Beam started the Basil Hayden's brand in 1992, named for the very same Basil Hayden, Sr.

 

Basil Hayden (the Bourbon) is known for being a lighter, high-rye whiskey. Both seasoned and new-to-Bourbon drinkers tend to find it appealing. Its newest, limited-edition release is called Cognac Cask Reserve.

 

"Basil Hayden Cognac Cask reflects our commitment to honoring the brand's original Bourbon while continuing to explore what's possible within the category. This expression was thoughtfully crafted to deliver a distinctive yet approachable experience. French Cognac casks let us take our Basil Hayden signature profile that people know and love and put a twist on it, and we're incredibly proud to share it with bourbon and cognac drinkers alike." – Freddie Noe, Master Distiller

 

It begins with the standard Jim Beam high-rye distillate: 63% corn, 27% rye, and 10% malted barley. It matured for at least 4 years in new, 53-gallon charred oak barrels before being transferred to finishing casks that previously held Cognac exclusively for 20–25 years. Packaged at 40% ABV (80°), a 750mL bottle has a suggested price of $49.99. It carries no age statement.

 

Cognac-finished Bourbons can be a lot of fun. Will Basil Hayden follow suit? To answer that, we will #DrinkCurious. First, however, I must thank Jim Beam for providing me with a sample in exchange for my no-strings-attached, honest review.

 

• Whiskey Type: Straight Bourbon
• Distiller: The James B. Beam Distilling Co.
• Age: NAS (at least 4 years)
• Mashbill: 63% corn, 27% rye, and 10% malted barley
• Cooperage: New, 53-gallon charred oak barrels, then finished in Cognac casks
• Alcohol Content: 40% ABV (80°)
• Price per 750mL: $49.99

 

Appearance: I used a Glencairn glass to explore this Bourbon neat. I observed a blonde-amber color, and the liquid created a thick rim with slow, husky, crowded tears.

 

Nose: Even at this lower proof, I waited 15 minutes before interacting with the aroma. When I brought the glass beneath my nostrils and started sniffing, I found notes of oak, honey, black cherries, dried apricots, and dates. Inside my mouth, the air tasted of dates.

 

Palate: I took my first sip, and my tongue was greeted by a soft texture with a blend of charred oak and rye spice. I took another, and this time I found apricots, dates, and a dollop of honey on the front of my palate. The middle featured toffee, hazelnuts, and ancho chiles, while charred oak, rye spice, and golden raisins hit the back.

 

Finish: Between the charred oak, ancho chiles, and rye, the finish had a smoky, spicy depth. Yet the sweetness of golden raisins, apricots, and honey kept those spices in check. Hazelnuts added a muted bitterness. Then the spice built into an intensity that screamed Cognac brandy. At 1:50, I'd consider the duration to be very long.

 

Bottle, Bar, or Bust: For those who turn their nose at 40% ABV (80°) whiskeys, Basil Hayden Cognac Cask Reserve will throw you for a loop. The vintage casks have enough oomph to capture my attention, where a lesser Cognac finish might otherwise have been lost.

 

For $50.00, Cognac Cask Reserve seems like a bargain. Booker has another winner that I'm thrilled to have in my Whiskey Library. It deserves my Bottle rating. Cheers!

 

My Simple, Easy-to-Understand Rating System

• Bottle = Buy It
• Bar = Try It
• Bust = Leave It

 

Whiskeyfellow encourages you to enjoy your whiskey as you see fit, but begs you to do so responsibly.