“When is a present not a present?” – Baron Harkonnen, Dune
The whiskey I’ll be reviewing at present was “gifted” to me by Ryan, who was positive I might hate it. He even went so far as to incorporate a home made meme (reproduced beneath), wherein “Temple of Doom”-era Indiana Jones warns me, “Put together to satisfy Basil Hayden… in Hell!”
Nonetheless, it arrived in time to welcome me to my new house, which created a pleasant feeling (dare I describe it as “heat and toasty?”). It additionally represents a problem to my present preconceptions. I respect each the gesture and the possibility to place my very own biases and heuristics to the take a look at with the kind of bottle I might completely, positively, never-ever-in-a-million-years buy for myself: Basil Hayden Toast.
Repeat readers of this web site can be conversant in my ordinary disdain for the whiskeys within the Basil Hayden secure. Corey was not rather more impressed with their 10 12 months outdated bourbon, although he allowed that hardcore bourbon freaks (of the kind that produce evaluations for this web site) are most likely not the supposed viewers for 80 proof bourbon.
I might agree, but in addition provide the next pushback: if somebody is actually a bourbon novice and so they wish to start creating their palate on decrease proof bourbon, there are such a lot of inexpensive choices from which to decide on. Sorting my native liquor retailer’s stock of 750 ml bottles of bourbon so as of ascending worth, a newcomer may attempt bottles of Benchmark ($11), Zackariah Harris ($11), Outdated Fitzgerald ($14), and Evan Williams ($15), all for roughly the price of the whiskey in my arms.
To remain within the Lucasfilm universe, I’m reminded of a little bit of knowledge from Star Wars’ Jawas, the scavenging natives of Tatooine: “Don’t think about a use for one thing; think about another person who would possibly discover a use for it.” Placing on my artistic cap, I’ll now attempt to envision the kind of one that could be a fan and repeat purchaser of Basil Hayden bourbon. [thinking noises]
Incorrigible good aleck that I’m, the glib reply that first springs to thoughts is “Somebody with extra money than style!” That’s not fairly proper, although. Basil Hayden is overpriced for what it’s, but it surely’s not that costly, within the broader context of bourbon within the 12 months 2022. For those who had been a wealthy fool who knew nothing about bourbon and didn’t care to coach your self, you wouldn’t be shopping for Basil Hayden to impress individuals (you’d be shopping for Blue Run).
My second thought, no much less glib, is “somebody who hates bourbon however desires to drink it anyway.” In spite of everything, Basil Hayden isn’t unhealthy whiskey, within the sense of getting objectionable aromas and flavors that make it disagreeable to drink. It begins off nearly as good whiskey – the kind that would find yourself as Booker’s or Baker’s or Knob Creek or OGD 114 – and endures water torture till it’s a skinny, pale shadow of no matter got here from the barrel.
Perhaps there’s a set of delicate souls who benefit from the elemental flavors of bourbon, however can solely tolerate them of their most subdued kind? Perhaps they’re supertasters, and the merest trace of character is sufficient to overwhelm their nostril and palate? Once more, although, why not simply go for any of the comparably weak and extra attractively priced choices of the kind famous above?
No matter whether or not or not I can conceive of a audience for Basil Hayden, the existence of those of us is strongly supported by the truth that Jim Beam retains making the stuff. Not solely that, however they periodically present gildings on the theme of whiskey-diluted-until-it-is-at-the-very-edge-of-being-whiskey. Introduced in early August of 2021, this Basil Hayden Toast is simply such a variation. Based on Beam’s personal web site for this expression:
“The most recent everlasting launch from Basil Hayden consists of a wholly new brown rice mashbill and a secondary end in toasted barrels.”
That bit in regards to the mash invoice piqued my curiosity. Exploring additional, I discovered this verbiage from the announcement press launch:
“In lieu of conventional rye grain, Basil Hayden Toast is made utilizing US-grown brown rice… whereas a secondary toasted barrel end attracts out notes of caramelized sugar and toasted wooden. After getting older, the toasted brown rice bourbon is mixed again with extra brown rice bourbon, which has been rested in stage 4 char barrels.”
Setting apart my regular reservations, I’m cautiously optimistic about this one. I’m at all times extra occupied with novel approaches once they’re targeted on the entrance finish of the bourbon making course of (grains, fermentation, distillation, and barrel entry proof) than on the again finish (novelty barrels or wacky finishes). That stated, this expression incorporates each funky grain (within the type of the rice) and the now-ubiquitous toasted barrel, of which many sorts have been reviewed on this house.
The bottling power on this, as with all of the Basil Hayden expressions, is a authorized minimal 80 proof (40% ABV). SRP for that is $50, a premium to the $40 for which the usual Basil Hayden bourbon retails. Let’s see if this putative white elephant will really become a present that retains on giving?
Basil Hayden Toast – Assessment
Shade: Medium pale gold.
On the nostril: Very Beam-like, with the aroma of salted peanut shells wafting out of the glass instantly. I get a really juicy orangey fruitiness within the method of a ripe clementine, in addition to some floral notes of roses. There’s a touch of spice in right here in addition to some delicate woodiness, however nothing that screams out “toasted barrel” to me. With a while, I begin to sense a creamy, buttery notice that’s accented by a little bit of piquant black peppercorn and a few freshly minimize inexperienced grass. A great begin in all however – as is at all times the case with Basil Hayden – I’ll reserve judgment till I see whether or not this will maintain up on the palate.
Within the mouth: A gentle woodiness and a few wispy flavors of mocha announce the arrival of this whisky on the tip of the tongue. From there, it goes principally mute because it strikes towards the center of the mouth, the place essentially the most noticeable attribute is an extremely obscure sense of bourbon-ness, with the quantity dialed all the way in which all the way down to the faintest of whispers. Perhaps lemon, perhaps caramel, perhaps vanilla, perhaps oak… who is aware of? The flavors listed here are so insubstantial that they defy identification.
Conclusions:
Frank Zappa stated, “Artwork is making one thing out of nothing, and promoting it.” Freddie Noe has finished the other right here; in taking these uncooked supplies (each the modern mash invoice and the toasted barrels) and utilizing them to supply this bourbon, he has made nothing out of one thing. The nostril has just a few factors of intrigue, however within the mouth that is as uninteresting and as pedestrian a whisky as Jim Beam White Label… and prices solely thrice as a lot.
I’m flabbergasted by this whiskey, and never in a great way. Regardless of the rice within the mash invoice and the toasted barrel end, that is nearly indistinguishable from Basil Hayden. Why did Beam even hassle making this? Oh yeah: cash. You already know the place that is headed…
Rating: 3/10
A few of you’ll now be full of remorse at having indulged my thousand phrases of meandering preamble earlier than being handled to a overview and rating that most likely may have been predicted from simply studying the title. In my protection, I’ll say that I do my greatest to enter every overview within the spirit of open-minded optimism. I really like discovering an ideal whiskey for a great worth and telling you all about it. They’re on the market, however this ain’t it.
Relatively, it is a microcosmic recapitulation of many – not all, however tons – of the issues unsuitable with bourbon whiskey at present. It’s additionally more and more turning into the rule relatively than the exception, which sucks a variety of the enjoyable out of making an attempt new whiskeys from each established producers and startups. Sadly, this can most likely worsen earlier than it will get higher, and I’m pretty sure that Ryan will be sure I proceed to have the chance to style the worst of the worst. To him I’d wish to as soon as once more categorical my thanks, and in addition to say, “See you in hell.”
Lead picture courtesy of Basil Hayden/Jim Beam.
