Basil Hayden’s is one of the smoothest drinking whiskies so we have ever reviewed at NeuFutur but the great thing about this spirit is that it has such a complexity to it that it shines no matter what sort of drink one puts it into. The initial flavors that one receives from the bottle goes and warms up somebody drastically while working its way down the esophagus. The fruit of the spirit is substantial so a few shots should be enough to suffice; hints of oak, tobacco, vanilla and a sharp knife like alcohol burn mark initial sips while hints of smoke and beef can be taken up at subsequent pulls.
Basil Hayden’s gives a whole other side to itself when one chooses to drink it on the rocks or in a mixed drink; the inclusion of a bit of additional water into the mix is exactly what is needed to showcase some of the more nuanced notes that exist with this bourbon. When one is able to play around with the spirit in their mouth for a second, a further array of flavors can be discerned. While this is a spirit that by no means requires the inclusion of coke or juice or anything else that one typically includes in a cocktail, the presence of Basil Hayden’s into any one of the traditional whiskey or bourbon containing drinks will give a whole new spirit a lease on life to that drink. Take for example the classic whiskey sour that usually just has equal amounts of sweet and sour notes to it. By putting in a shot or two of Basil Hayden’s into this whiskey sour the darker and deeper elements of the spirit make for a drink that is sophisticated and a welcome change of pace, especially for those people that purchase a whiskey sour or similar drink on a regular basis.
The great thing about Basil Hayden’s is that it does have good distribution and it is a good whiskwy for a price that really cannot be beat. When individuals are looking to pay $50 to $75 for a bottle of solid bourbon they can go and purchase the bottle of Basil Hayden’s for around $35. When you’re looking to switch things up go to the top shelf of your local liquor store and purchase a bottle to see exactly what goes on when you add Basil Hayden’s into the mix.
Rating 9.6 / 10
Basil Hayden’s Bourbon Whiskey / 80 Proof / http://www.basilhaydens.com / https://twitter.com/basilhaydens