BASIL HAYDEN - ANOTHER BOURBON WORTH GETTING

[chief38]

As some here already know, Kentucky Bourbon ( and Jack Daniels Single Barrel as well as Old No. 7 ) is my drink of choice. I love trying new Bourbons and recently bought a bottle of Basil Hayden Straight Kentucky, 80 Proof Bourbon. It is not too pricey and is just EXCELLENT! I would put it on par with Eagle Rare 10 year old which just barely edges out the Basil Hayden in my opinion.

If some of you are Bourbon lovers and have not tried it yet, I'd definitely put it on your short list.

I've been trying to get a hold of the new Jack Daniels "Bottled in Bond" 100 Proof variation but as of today it is not yet available in my area. Has anyone here had the pleasure of trying it yet? If so how is it?

 

[S&WOkie]

The Basil Hayden is good for 80 proof. I have all four of the Beam "Small Batch Collection" and I like the higher proof versions much better.

The Baker's is 107, the Knob Creek is 120, and the Booker's is 129.7. The Booker's taste fantastic but for the price difference the Knob Creek is pretty darn good.

I drink whiskey neat and one great thing about the higher proof whiskies is that you can drink it at full proof or add a few drops of water to open up the flavors without it getting too weak.

 

[pawngal]

My understanding that the Bottled in Bond JD is only available in airports/duty free shops.

 

[Absalom]

The Basil Hayden is good for 80 proof. I have all four of the Beam "Small Batch Collection" and I like the higher proof versions much better.
...

Three of Beam’s Small Batch bourbons, Knob Creek, Baker’s, and Booker’s, are different bottlings of the same Beam bourbon recipe and distillate, just selected and handled differently in terms of barrel selection, storage location, aging, and proof.

Basil Hayden is the only one with a different distillate, the Old Granddad recipe with twice the rye at 30%, compared to the regular bourbon at around 15%. So it should taste differently.

BH is basically OGD at double the age. I’ve always thought a BH at the higher proofs that OGD is available, up to 114, would be a great idea.

 

[chief38]

My understanding that the Bottled in Bond JD is only available in airports/duty free shops.

I had not heard that, but for its first release (at least) you could be correct as no Liquor Stores anywhere has it. I hope they can get it mainstream!

 

[chief38]

I've tried the higher proof Bourbons and about the highest I actually enjoy is around 100 - 104. Much above that is a bit too much heat for my taste. I have tried the Cask Strength Knob Creek and it is a bit much for my liking. Yea, I can add water, but I just stick to Bourbons between 80 and 100 proof. Actually 94 - 100 is the sweet spot for me depending on the actual bottle.

 

[eb07]

Eagle Rare
Blantons
Basil Hayden

My three gotos. I drink nothing else these days.

 

[chief38]

Eagle Rare
Blantons
Basil Hayden

My three gotos. I drink nothing else these days.

I think you made GREAT group pick (I agree)! Let me just suggest one more that is not 100% as good as these 3, but for $23 Bucks a bottle it's incredible! Larceny. Again, just a wee bit less as good, but half the price. There are times I just feel like having the Larceny as it is a little different taste (not quite as sweet) and fills the slot.

 

[typetwelve]

Great thread...I was an all-in bourbon guy and eventually got into Scotch...but that is a different story for a different day.

I liked Basil...but given the price it fetches around where I live ($30-40 range), I much prefer other offerings. I've long thought that comparing bourbons in different price ranges is kind of unfair, so I try to keep them together.

In the $30-40 range, I much prefer Eagle Rare ($30) or Four Roses Single Barrel ($35-40). I'll admit that my go to is OGD in the BiB 100 proof offering or the 114 (when I can find it), BiB is a $20 bottle and 114 is normally under $25.

I think it's Basil's 80 proof that turns me off to it...it's like Four Roses yellow label. 80 proof is my sweet spor for most Scotch...but bourbon just tastes "wrong" to me at that proof, as if you've already watered it down. 4 Roses YL is a superb mixer, as is Basil...but Basil isn't under $20 like the YL.


...oh, and concerning Booker's...I love it at the $45 I could get it for at Costco just a few years back...now, at pushing $100 locally, no way. I wouldn't even pay that much for Blantons.

 

[Absalom]

Eagle Rare
Blantons
Basil Hayden

My three gotos. I drink nothing else these days.

Interesting pattern. Did you intentionally pick one each of the three rye levels common in bourbon distilling?

Basil H.: Beam‘s high rye at -30% rye
Blanton‘s: Buffalo Trace #2 at -15% rye
Eagle Rare: Buffalo Trace #1 at -8% rye

Adding chief38’s recommendation of Larceny would complete your set with a no-rye wheated bourbon.

 

[chief38]

Interesting pattern. Did you intentionally pick one each of the three rye levels common in bourbon distilling?

Basil H.: Beam‘s high rye at -30% rye
Blanton‘s: Buffalo Trace #2 at -15% rye
Eagle Rare: Buffalo Trace #1 at -8% rye

Adding chief38’s recommendation of Larceny would complete your set with a no-rye wheated bourbon.

Hmmm, very interesting! I never payed much attention to the ingredients - just the taste. I guess I will start looking now.

 

[joeintexas]

Larceny. There are times I just feel like having the Larceny as it is a little different taste (not quite as sweet) and fills the slot.

I have to agree on the Larceny, good drink for the price. I do enjoy the Jim Bean Black label double aged. Going to have to try the Basil Hayden.

 

[typetwelve]

Hmmm, very interesting! I never payed much attention to the ingredients - just the taste. I guess I will start looking now.

Reading about mash bills is interesting (at least to me it is). It helps me when I choosing a bottle blind. I'm not a fan of rye, but I do like some rye forward bourbons (like the Four Roses I mentioned earlier). I happen to like some "wheated" offerings, although most are far to costly and have a uber high status they honestly don't deserve.

 

[eb07]

Interesting pattern. Did you intentionally pick one each of the three rye levels common in bourbon distilling?

Basil H.: Beam‘s high rye at -30% rye
Blanton‘s: Buffalo Trace #2 at -15% rye
Eagle Rare: Buffalo Trace #1 at -8% rye

Adding chief38’s recommendation of Larceny would complete your set with a no-rye wheated bourbon.

Just years of sampling and taste. Each goes well with my favorite cigars so they are my choices.

Will try larceny.

 

[chief38]

My understanding that the Bottled in Bond JD is only available in airports/duty free shops.

Pawngal,

You were spot on!! I sent an email to Jack Daniels and this is there exact response.......

Thanks for writing, Bob, but Bottled in Bond is a travel retail exclusive. That means it is only available in travel retail stores (like airports and on cruise ships). It cannot be ordered by regular retail stores.

It is available in travel retail stores worldwide and it isn't a limited edition, it's a new product. So we hope you'll look for it as you travel in the future.

Have a good week.

Cheers,

Your Friends at Jack Daniel's

 

[StephenWhoDat]

Basil Hayden's has been my number one bourbon for years. A friend of mine recently turned me on to Willet Bourbon, which is incredibly delicious. I blame only myself for not trying it much sooner.

 

[625-7]

Quality is paramount

A good bourbon thinned out with a top notch ginger ale so as not to bruise the corn squeezings!

 

[pawngal]

!!!

A good bourbon thinned out with a top notch ginger ale so as not to bruise the corn squeezings!

Why oh why would you mix a good bourbon with gnger ale???
Inquiring minds need to know!!!

 

[CH4]

Why oh why would you mix a good bourbon with gnger ale???
Inquiring minds need to know!!!

Exactly! Some people...
As a lifelong connoisseur of fine ginger ale, preferably Canada Dry, I take it on the rocks with a splash of JW Blue Label. Soooo smooth

Seriously though, I enjoy reading your threads about the different whiskeys, bourbons, etc. I wish I could develop a taste for it, but just can’t do it, nor can I tolerate the burn. When drinking with the boys, I need water to chase it. Perhaps I should use giner ale. . Any hints for a wanna be whiskey drinker?

 

[Absalom]

....
Seriously though, I enjoy reading your threads about the different whiskeys, bourbons, etc. I wish I could develop a taste for it, but just can’t do it, nor can I tolerate the burn. When drinking with the boys, I need water to chase it. Perhaps I should use giner ale. . Any hints for a wanna be whiskey drinker?

The most important thing to remember about whiskey is that in the end it’s a beverage. No more, no less.

If you don’t like the burn, add water until it doesn’t burn any more. People who think that in order to be manly they need to “get used” to the burn of neat whiskey are as dumb as those who brag about “being used” to shooting without hearing protection.

Some cultures are more prone to mixing. In Canada in particular, mixing with ginger ale is common, and Canadian whiskies are formulated with that in mind.

So basically, do what you want. It’s just grains, yeast, wood, and water after all. And never be afraid to like or dislike a whiskey, no matter what the “experts” say.