Basil Hayden Bourbon is one of four bourbons that comprise Jim Beam’s Small Batch Bourbon Collection. The others are Knob Creek, Baker’s Bourbon, and Booker’s Bourbon. Basil Hayden falls first in line proof-wise at 80 proof. While the other three bourbons in the Small Batch Collection all share the same mashbill of 77% corn, 13% rye, and 10% malted barley, Basil Hayden is created using Jim Beam’s high-rye mashbill that is found in Old Grand-Dad and Old Grand-Dad 114. Basil Hayden’s is named after the late Master Distiller Basil Hayden Sr., who was known for his use of high rye bourbon mashbills.

‍‍The Basil Hayden line saw a label refresh in 2022, redesigning its “BH” buckle that encompasses the bottle, and doing away with the paper “tanktop” style label for a more modern design on the bottle itself. The bottle also changed names from Basil Hayden’s to Basil Hayden. The Basil Hayden family of releases now includes Toast, 10 Year, Dark Rye, Malted Rye, and limited-time releases of Subtle Smoke and Red Wine Cask Bourbon.

A good amount of caramel, candy corn, and fresh cut squash present themselves with considerable ease. This is surprising given the brand’s 80 proof point, whose releases typically struggle to omit ample vigor. If that wasn’t enough, an indistinguishable blend of red fruits, along with vanilla and oak, can also be noticed. Try hard enough and even faint hints of peach, golden raisin, and green tea can also be picked out. Though the scents come together well and are more potent than expected, they still struggle with lasting power. It’s a serviceable aroma that’s hard to find any major fault with, but it also brings more than expected based on the proof and past releases.

The palate presents itself in a very traditional manner. Straightforward and to the point, it offers standard bourbon notes of vanilla and sweet oak up front. From there, the bourbon opens up slightly, with golden raisin, honey, and a dash of peach that helps diversify the sip to a degree. It lacks much mouthfeel due to the bourbon’s 80 proof and feels thin to chew on. Despite these misgivings, the flavors work well together.

The end of the sip turns noticeably more spicy with a dry oak and coppery undertone. There are some semi-sweet summer fruits and chocolate wafer notes that help balance its spicy side. The finish is much more simple than the rest of the sip and is quite underwhelming. Though its fruit flavors withdraw much too quickly, you're left with a lingering oak bitterness and a touch of spice. A lot of these misgivings are likely due to its proof, but overall this is a lackluster finish that adds little to the sip besides some welcomed spice.

Basil Hayden Bourbon has always served a purpose in Jim Beam’s Small Batch Collection. Being the lowest proof bourbon in the collection at 80 proof, it typically acts as an entry point for budding bourbon drinkers. That same low proof point also results in it being written off by more experienced bourbon drinkers as being too watered down, resulting in what some consider a flavorless pour. That sentiment has been greatly exaggerated by years of it being repeated ad nauseam and the industry focusing on high proof bourbons. But in 2025, does Basil Hayden Bourbon still serve a purpose, and are reports of its demise greatly exaggerated?  

Basil Hayden Bourbon is considered a high-rye bourbon, with 27% of its mashbill dedicated to rye. This results in a more spicy bourbon but combined with a lower proof, it offers a touch of spice more than an overwhelming amount of it. Basil Hayden also helps balance this spiciness with a decent amount of sweet and fruity notes. Though its flavor profile doesn’t offer any truly unique flavors, it’s this layered approach of offering sweet and spice in near equal amounts that, when combined with a low proof point, make Basil Hayden Bourbon appealing to a segment of bourbon drinkers. It won’t grab your attention in any particular way, but where it was once so watered down it barely exuded distinct flavors, it now tastes more focused, and in a way, a modern interpretation of the quintessential bourbon flavor profile.

Jim Beam has always positioned their Small Batch Collection as a premium selection of bourbons. Upon its launch, that was certainly true, though the bourbon landscape looks remarkably different 33 years later. In some ways, $50 for Basil Hayden can be seen as a value-buy based simply on the quality of the bourbon itself. It is why so many drinkers new to bourbon gravitate to it as they start off. Its quality packaging, as it always has, communicates a premium pour, even if that isn’t necessarily the case. Add in that it's from a major and very well known Kentucky distillery, many who already are familiar with Jim Beam Bourbon, and Basil Hayden comes across as a logical next step for people to gravitate to.

The ever-constant issue with Basil Hayden Bourbon is its proof. Paying $50 for an 80 proof bourbon is a dealbreaker for many drinkers, especially those who have some experience with the spirit and who realize that higher proof bourbon from the same distillery and with the same mashbill can be purchased for much less (Old Grand-Dad). There is simply no getting around that. Even if the proof was higher at the same price or if it was the same proof for half the price, these same people would probably look past it. But Beam should be commended for keeping the price of Basil Hayden relatively constant for over a decade now while still maintaining the bottle’s upscale mentality. Given that this bottle is often found below MSRP, it's an easy and safe go-to for those looking to branch out from Jim Beam White Label, Maker’s Mark, and Jack Daniel’s. That doesn’t necessarily make it a great value, but one that is priced in accordance to who it's targeted for.

Basil Hayden remains one of bourbon’s most love-it or hate-it products and none of it is a result of the bourbon's flavor profile or overall quality, but solely because of its proof point. Experienced bourbon drinkers will forever deem its sip as watery and question if it should even still exist in Jim Beam’s Small Batch Collection. Newcomers to bourbon will still gravitate to its approachable, sweet-spicy, and yes, “smooth” sip. Basil Hayden Bourbon exists in a precarious place, yet endures nevertheless. What one loves about it, another hates. While that could be said about any bourbon, Basil Hayden seems to encapsulate this as a poster child in the bourbon space. It has thrived for so long because there is a market demand for it, and while it isn’t necessarily a bourbon for everyone, it is one for a good number of those entering the world of bourbon.