Editor’s Note: This whiskey was provided to us as a review sample by the party behind it. This in no way, per our editorial policies, influenced the final outcome of this review. It should also be noted that by clicking the buy link in this review our site receives a small referral payment which helps to support, but not influence, our editorial and other costs.
Basil Hayden has quite a bit of history behind it. Created by Frederick Booker Noe II, who was the 6th generation of the Beam family of the Jim Beam distillers. Booker was master distiller for Jim Beam for 41 years, and is perhaps best known for starting the ‘Small Batch’ idea for an uncut and unfiltered bourbon. He created this first small batch as Christmas gifts for his friends, which soon became Booker’s Bourbon. From there, he worked on creating other small batch brands, one of which is Basil Hayden.
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As a lover of bourbon, and a 6th generation distiller, Booker Noe was definitely familiar with the history of bourbon distilling. So, when he was working on making one of his small batch bourbons, he looked to bourbon distillers of the past. This brought him to Basil Hayden. Hayden was a distiller in the late 1700’s, and was one of the first to come to the area of Kentucky near what is now Bardstown, in Nelson County.
Hayden was known as the King of High Rye, as he used a very high rye mash for his bourbons. This same rye mash bill is what Booker Noe recreated for his small batch Basil Hayden.
Fast forward to today, and a recent variant of this popular whiskey is the new Basil Hayden Malted Rye. This is a 100% malted rye mash bill. While most whiskeys are corn based, they generally use a mash bill that also includes wheat or rye. To be considered an American rye whiskey, they must contain at least 51% rye. These tend to be corn and rye, or sometimes both rye and malted rye. There are some high-rye whiskey, with up to 95% rye, but there are very few that are 100% rye based.
Tasting Notes: Basil Hayden Malted Rye
Vital Stats: 80 proof (40% ABV); 750ml bottle; $58 msrp.
Appearance: This whiskey is a very lovely light honey in color.
Nose: There is a very heavy scent of malted rye, with a bit of spice, and hints of oak.
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Palate: The initial hit is sweet and smooth, with hints of vanilla, followed by a warming spice and cinnamon flavor.
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