All about Basil Hayden's
Basil Hayden’s is a brand of Jim Beam, and thus produced by Beam-Suntory. But it is one of their special “small batch” brands, which also include Booker’s, Baker’s, and Knob Creek.
“Small batch” is a relative term, and Jim Beam produces a lot of Basil Hayden’s when compared to, say a craft distillery. But compared to their overall production, it is a fairly small par. It gets a full eight years of aging and some focused attention.
Each of these small batch brands gets a twist that sets it apart from the others. In the case of Basil Hayden’s, that means about twice as much Rye in the mash bill as the other three.
This means that it has a lighter, less sweet, and spicy flavor profile compared to its sisters in the line-up. It brings out a minty essence, especially on the back palate and finish.