Basil Hayden Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey (175cl, 40%)

Basil Hayden is a Kentucky straight bourbon from the Jim Beam Distillery in Clermont, in a 1.75 litre bottle at 40% ABV. It is made with a high-rye mash bill containing twice the standard amount of rye, and is named after Meredith Basil Hayden Sr., a Maryland rye farmer who moved to Kentucky in 1796 and began distilling. Booker Noe, Jim Beam's master distiller, created it in 1992 as part of the Small Batch Bourbon Collection. It is the lighter, more delicate of the four expressions in that range. The nose brings charred oak, vanilla, caramel and dried fruit. On the palate there is brown sugar, a touch of black pepper from the rye and more dried fruit, with a lingering finish of charred oak.