The standard issue Basil Hayden Bourbon was a staple during the early part of our whisk(e)y journey. An approachable crowd-pleaser that never disappoints. On today’s episode of A Tasting at The Murder Table, we’re trying a Basil Hayden variation that they call Subtle Smoke.
Here’s what Jim Beam, the makers of Basil Hayden have to say about their latest expression:
Basil Hayden Subtle Smoke features the same high-rye mash bill that Basil Hayden loyalists know and love, but uses secondary aging to deliver a unique, layered flavor with a refined hint of smokiness.
We begin by toasting and lightly charring the secondary barrel. This is followed by delicately igniting hickory-smoked chips at a constant feed to produce smoke, which is then pumped into the barrel, resulting in notes of soft char and light butterscotch. This unique flavor provides a smoother, more subtle take on smoky spirits, and creates the perfectly sophisticated, yet approachable introduction to both bourbon and Basil Hayden.
Serving Subtle Smoke neat or on the rocks allows the mellow smoke and sweet vanilla notes to shine while complementing the spicy rye flavors typical to Basil Hayden bourbon’s high-rye mash bill. At 80 proof, Subtle Smoke is light enough to examine on the palate without the burn typically associated with higher-proof or overly smoky spirits.
We’re no strangers to a smoky dram, so we were very curious to see what Basil Hayden would taste like with a touch of what we hoped would be smoky goodness. Click play on the following video to see if our optimism was rewarded:
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Categories: Basil Hayden, Booze Dancing TV, Booze Review
