Sips & Sites & Bites

The iconic whiskey maker Basil Hayden is bringing back a favorite … and where there’s smoke, there’s fire.

When they first released this new product in 2022, Basil Hayden looked to challenge the notion that smoky spirits are harsh. So they introduced the limited-edition Basil Hayden Subtle Smoke. 

Its strong sales and demand prompted Basil Hayden to bring it back for another limited run. 

Basil Hayden Subtle Smoke is the product of a unique barrel-finishing process which features their signature Basil Hayden high rye mash bill as its base. The bourbon is then aged six weeks inside secondary toasted and lightly charred barrels that have been pumped with a special smoke that was made from hickory smoked chips.

The whiskey is crafted by eighth generation distiller, Freddie Noe, on the Jim Beam campus. He noted that the unique, two-phased maturation process imparts mellow notes of smoke complimented by soft char and light butterscotch for a subtly smoky, yet approachable taste profile.

His distiller’s notes show that on the nose are aromas of mellow smoke character with a hint of vanilla. The palate features soft char with light sweetness reminiscent of caramel and apple. It finishes crisp with delicate smokiness of light toasted hickory wood.

Basil Hayden Subtle Smoke clocks in at 40% ABV, 80 proof. It can be found at wine and spirits retailers throughout the country for a suggested retail price of $49.99 per 750ml bottle. 

If you’re looking for a cocktail inspiration featuring the Subtle Smoke, there’s the Brass Rail:

Ingredients:

• 2 oz BH Subtle Smoke
• .5 oz Bénédictine
• 4 dashes Peychaud’s Bitters
• Orange peel expressed over cocktail and Amerena cherry for garnish

Directions:

• Combine ingredients in a mixing glass with ice
• Stir to chill
• Strain into a rocks glass over fresh ice (large cube recommended).