Aged oak | Light smoke | Honey | Toasted marshmallow | Mellow

Seasoned aged oak | Butterscotch | Rye spice | Black pepper

Resonating rye spice | Caramel | Persistent aged oak | Delicate

The Basil Hayden brand was introduced by 6th generation Jim Beam Master Distiller Frederick “Booker” Noe in 1992. The brand has undergone a number of changes over the years, including the addition of various limited edition bottlings and finishes. Basil Hayden Aged 10 Years was originally released in 2018 as a limited edition bottling, with numerous limited edition releases thereafter. In September 2024, Basil Hayden Aged 10 Years became a permanent line extension for the brand.

Basil Hayden Aged 10 Years is a mellow, oak-forward bourbon. An issue many have with Basil Hayden is its low proof point, which is bourbon’s legal minimum of 80 (bourbon must be bottled at no less than 80 proof to be labeled bourbon). Lowering the proof mellows the bourbon dramatically, and in many cases, such a low proof results in a boring, watery sip. This latest edition of Basil Hayden Aged 10 Years is definitely mellow, but getting past the bourbon’s obvious lower intensity relative to today’s high proof trend reveals a bourbon with a pleasant degree of flavor and a significant improvement over the standard Basil Hayden. 10 Year is centered on aged oak, but brings in various sweet notes, spice, and a hint of smoke. Overall this is a bourbon that higher proof seekers will clearly want to avoid. But the drinker who isn’t typically knocking the door on 100+ proof bourbons will find a lot to like with Basil Hayden Aged 10 Years as an easy sipping bourbon that’s focused on oak with an ample degree of complexity.