Basil Hayden's Bourbon
High-rye Kentucky bourbon, gentle at 80 proof, since 1992.
The story behind Basil Hayden's
Basil Hayden's arrived in 1992, the work of sixth-generation Master Distiller Frederick "Booker" Noe, as the gentlest member of the Jim Beam Small Batch Bourbon Collection alongside Knob Creek, Baker's and Booker's. The name honors Meredith Basil Hayden Sr., a Maryland Catholic who led families into Kentucky in 1785 and was distilling a high-rye recipe of his own by 1792.
That recipe survives in the glass: 63% corn, 27% rye, 10% malted barley, matured in newly charred American white oak and bottled at 80 proof, the legal floor for bourbon. The old 8-year age statement came off the label in 2014; it is now blended from straight bourbons aged at least four years. The result is light-bodied, spice-edged and easy to drink neat.
Explore the Basil Hayden's range
The core lineup runs from a 375mL starter to a 1.75L handle, with rye expressions and a 10 year old for the curious.
| Expression | Type | Proof / ABV | Tasting notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basil Hayden's Bourbon 375mL | Kentucky Straight Bourbon | 80 | Light body, rye spice, vanilla, faint char |
| Basil Hayden's Bourbon 750mL | Kentucky Straight Bourbon | 80 | Peppery rye, honey, oak, soft finish |
| Basil Hayden's Bourbon 1.75L | Kentucky Straight Bourbon | 80 | Same gentle profile, built for a crowd |
| Basil Hayden's Dark Rye 750mL | Rye Whiskey | 80 | Rye blended with Canadian rye and port |
| Basil Hayden's Caribbean Reserve Rye 750mL | Rye Whiskey | 80 | Rum cask finish, brown sugar, tropical fruit |
| Basil Hayden's 10 Years Bourbon 750mL | Aged Straight Bourbon | 80 | A decade in oak, deeper caramel, longer spice |
SpiritBasil Hayden's - Bourbon 750mL$42.99Out of stock
SpiritBasil Hayden's - Dark Rye 750mL$45.99
SpiritBasil Hayden's - Bourbon 375mL$24.99Out of stock
SpiritBasil Hayden's - Two By Two Rye 750mL$45.99Out of stock
SpiritBasil Hayden's - Bourbon 1L$48.99Out of stock
SpiritBasil Hayden's - 10 Years Bourbon 750mL$89.99Out of stock
SpiritBasil Hayden's - Caribbean Reserve Rye 750mL$45.99
SpiritBasil Hayden's - Bourbon 1.75L$79.99Out of stock
SpiritBasil Hayden's - Toasted Bourbon 750mL$49.99Which Basil Hayden's is right for you?
Pricing here is honest and steady. The 375mL is $24.99, the 750mL is $42.99, the 1L is $48.99 and the 1.75L is $79.99, so the big bottle is the value play if you pour often. The rye expressions and Toasted Bourbon sit at $45.99 to $49.99, and the 10 Years is $89.99. Buy Basil Hayden's online or grab it off the shelf in Commack; we have sold this label for three decades and the 80 proof flagship is the one that leaves fastest.
Low proof and light body suit a glass with no ice and no fuss.
One handle covers a party of old fashioneds without a second trip.
A decade in oak gives the familiar recipe more depth and backbone.