This spicy bourbon with a hint of honey flavor and the right amount of oak is my new favorite 80 proof of all. BH is perfectly distilled and aged to drink with a little ice, no water needed. The first glass finishes as smooth as the tenth glass with little to no bite and a smooth after taste. The bottle will look as nice as any other bourbon on your shelf, if you need the look to go with your taste. This bourbon doesn’t get the bar calls it deserves. From now on when Maker’s, Knob, and BH are on the shelf, Basil Hayden’s is my choice every time.
Age: 8 years
Proof: 80
Price: gift, ?
Rating: Excellent (i.e. 90)
I almost forgot that I have some of this at home. Basil is some awesome bourbon.
Your review is right on. I’ve never had 10 glasses, but it is VERY smooth with a fantastic after taste.
I’m not sure what you call it, but sometimes when you drink bourbon your nose burns/tingles as you take a sip. I noticed that this didn’t happen when I drank Basil.
Good review and keep up the site. I already have you guys bookmarked.
–TW
THE smoothest Bourbon I have ever had. By far and above my favorite. Mixing BH with a Coke would be a crime. I love the earthy, oaky texture. It is truly a “chewable” bourbon. ENJOY!
BH is my favorite. They are starting to price themselves out of my daily drink range, though.
Cleaning out the cupboards at a deceased uncles home, I found a bottle of bH hidden in the furthest corner of a cabinet. How would I found out anythng about this bottle of bH with its copper band and label; i.e.: “born on” age, distiller and location, etc. Any info would be appreciated. Thanks, J. R. Evans
Enjoyed some last night. Most commonly find BH to be the best available when at a restaurant/bar. Very smooth. Don’t mind the lower proof. Good “out-on-the-town” bourbon.
My buddy typically drinks Jack, I drink Jim. We’re polar opposites in that respect. However, after a bourbon tasting we went to we both decided that BH is both of our favorite bourbon. What a fantastic flavor on this bourbon. Another friend said that this is the only bourbon that he’s ever had that he didn’t need a splash of coke with it…it’s that smooth. The best ever in my book!
‘splash of coke’!!!! IN A GOOD BOURBON?! EGADS!!!
Not trying 2 b mean, but if your friend is going 2 add mixer, tell him to save his money and just mixup with one of the well liquors.
on the rocks is all u need.
I just had BH for the first time at a local restaurant about an hour ago. Up until tonight, Maker’s was easily my favorite tasting bourbon. But when I had my first taste of BH on the rocks, it was so smooth, I couldn’t believe it. I guess its smoothness makes sense given that it is the lowest proof of the major top bourbons. But for taste alone, I rank it easily at the top.
I just bought a bottle of BH at my local liquor store, on the recommendation of the guy at the counter. Wow, he was right! This is one of the smoothest bourbons I’ve ever had, with a very light flavor that is not harsh at all. Just a couple of ice cubes and a splash of BH made a very nice sipping drink this evening. I think BH is now my new favorite bourbon!
A friend of mine has been buying different bourbons every couple of weeks to find one he likes. I started doing the same. After a couple of duds I bought BH. I no longer buy different brands. I have found my bourbon. The best I have had, ever.
Been drinking BH for over 5 years. Have tried some others, none compare. BH is #1 with me.
Comments elsewhere – people have to add coke to Jack to mask the taste.
Small glass with ice is all you need w/BH.
If you think BH is good on the rocks or neat, try it while smoking a cigar. Go for a medium bodied cigar like a Fuente Sun Grown, a Cabaiguan or if you go Cuban, with a Monte Cristo #2. The world will seem like a peaceful enchanting place when you combine this bourbon with a good cigar.
I drink my whiskey with coke. I’m a panzy like that I guess but I would much rather have the nerve to drink it on the rocks. I just haven’t had a whiskey that doesn’t burn me. I’ve had Jack, Gentleman Jack, Templeton Rye and Makers. Makers is my favorite so far but not straight. I think I’ll try BH next.
I should sell this stuff, really… When I am in the mood for “Brown Sauce” nothing taste quite as delightful, especially nice as a ‘not too sweet’ after dinner sipper. I tried it for the first time at A’s in Newport on the recommendation of the bartender about 1 1/2 years ago, and it immediately bacame a staple in my bar…DE-lish!
BH may even get your lady to like the sauce!
Chill the glass, three ice cubes and three fingers of Basil.
Sit on the porch, and watch the sun set.
That’s heaven.
I had a small tasting of some small batch bourbons all from the beam family (knob creek, basil haydens, bookers, and bakers)and the BH was my fav. neat it was good with a slight caramel nose add one small cube of ice and the caramel comes out alot and sweetens up nicely.
Tried it last night at a tasting and it was wonderful. I like Gentleman, Makers and Crown, but this is the smoothest of them all.
Learned of B/H 14 years ago and haven’t put it down since! I recommend it to everyone I know that drinks bourbon. I just challenged my boss that it would be better than his crown royal special reserve, he said he’s never found anything that could beat it…he’s gonna get schooled tonight! Time he learns how the big boys do it!
If you have to splash it with something try Ginger Ale. That is the recommended splash on the tag on the bottle. It really needs no splash though. My favorite hands down.
NEAT!!!! That is the only way you drink good bourbon. No ice lemon, lime, sugar, salt and DEFINITELY NO COKE!! JK, enjoy your bourbon how you will. Anyways, Although not a great bourbon in my opinion due to it’s lack of complexity, BH is a very good and very smooth 80 proof bourbon. I would suggest it to anyone who is a novice in the bourbon drinking world. Definitly a good one to break you in before trying some of the bigger ones.
Tried a lot of Bourbons. B.H. BEATS em all. Smooth, smooth,smooth !!!
Just spent a long weekend at the Bourbon Festival in Bardstown and I have to say that, of all the amazing bourbons I tasted, BH and Elijah Craig 18 Year were the best. BH has always been a favorite of mine.
I would also agree that a bourbon should not be watered down with water or ice, but that’s a personal preference. Since the widely-held proper way to test taste bourbon is to take a small snifter of it neat, swirl, put the glass under your nose and breathe in through your mouth, I think that when you drink it, it is best tasted without anything else in the glass.
As always, it’s personal preference and opinion. Ultimately, it should be enjoyed, and that is up to the enjoyer.