Basil Hayden Toast

This new offering from a certain brand appears to be a substitute for their previous experimental releases that incorporated wine and rum. Those were quite unpleasant, so I appreciate this move toward a more conventional approach to innovation. However, even traditional methods have limitations in the whiskey realm, so let's see if they've succeeded with the toasted-charred oak profile. Aroma: Vanilla, brown sugar, toffee, and caramel. Tastes like a sugar cookie. Notes of apple and apricot, with a prominent apricot presence. The smoke is subtle, more in the background. Hints of cocoa and foam hand soap. Touches of ginger, rye spice, black pepper, clove, nutmeg, and oak spice. Palate: Flavors of cocoa, sawdust, black tea, and pipe smoke. More apple and apricot, reminiscent of apple pie and dried apricot. Notes of apple cider and cereal grain. Vanilla (like frosting), toffee, caramel, and brown sugar. Mocha. Citrus notes, specifically orange. Toasted almond and walnut. A spice blend of black pepper, ginger, clove, nutmeg, and oak spice. Finish: Flavors of apple and dried apricot. Cocoa, black tea, and pipe smoke. Caramel, toffee, vanilla, and brown sugar. Tastes like Cinnamon Apple Jacks cereal. Toasted almond and pistachio. Spice notes of black pepper, ginger, clove, nutmeg, rye spice, and oak. The finish is short to moderate in length. Upon researching this bottle, I discovered that brown rice was used instead of rye in the mash bill. Interestingly, I still sometimes perceive a trace of rye spice, but the strong rye character typically found in this brand is absent. To provide context for its rating, I'll compare it to other selections. I believe the brand's 10-year expression is slightly superior. This bottling is certainly better than the standard offering. All three mentioned are significantly better than the unconventional experiments previously released under this brand's name. Considering this, I'm hopeful about the brand's current direction. The score is 3.25, but I'm deducting points for value given its $50 price. I wouldn't pay more than $40 for a 40% ABV non-age-stated bourbon that, frankly, doesn't offer any truly distinctive characteristics. Toasted barrels are commonplace. The mash bill is noteworthy, and credit is due for that. A 40% ABV is unsatisfactory for dedicated bourbon enthusiasts. Depth is crucial, and this could be excellent if it offered more than the bare minimum. The rating is 3 out of 5 as is.

Aroma: Despite being light, the aroma is quite pleasant. It features baking spices with butter, light brown sugar, and a touch of cinnamon. Palate: Flavors of butterscotch, bread, and a subtle nuttiness (possibly almond?). It's simple, yet enjoyable. Finish: The warmth increases upon swallowing, followed by notes of cinnamon and leather. This provides a nice contrast to the generally sweet aroma and palate. Overall: While I wouldn't dismiss it, its simplicity prevents me from choosing it over other options more frequently.

This is acceptable, neither remarkable nor disappointing. I do prefer it to the standard bottling, but truthfully, if the label didn't mention "toasted," I wouldn't have necessarily identified that characteristic. The aroma is quite sweet with a fruity undertone. It's pretty smooth even neat, which is expected given its alcohol content. Adding a little ice doesn't significantly alter its profile. Overall, it's fairly smooth, and I detect some apple/orange fruitiness along with subtle oak or nut undertones.

This is preferable to their “subtle smoke” whiskey, but still not great. It's about what you'd expect given they use rice instead of corn in their mash bill, and I suppose they attempt to mask it by toasting the barrels to impart a less harsh smoky flavor. Rice and smoke… definitely not a good combination.

As a big admirer of Basil Hayden, I felt compelled to try this one. Aroma: Hazelnut, Caramel Palate: Oaky, Toffee, Candied Apple Finish: Cinnamon, Citrus Overall: It's quite enjoyable! While I don't favor it as much as the red wine cask Basil Hayden, it's something I would consider purchasing if it were on sale!

It's smooth, light, and understated. Minimal heat and good for sipping. However, nothing truly stands out. It's neither good nor bad; perhaps the brown rice contributes? It's mellow but ultimately anticlimactic, leaving me wanting something with more depth. It's not complex, but it's decent.