Basil Hayden Toast

Rating: 8/23 Blind bourbon tasting here. N: Fairly light. Minerals with a dash of cherry sweetness. This actually reminds me quite a bit of my first experience with Eagle Rare. Slowly, some light, slightly musty wood starts building. There's a little burn, but I don't smell alcohol. Faint cinnamon There's something off that's a hint meaty (sulphuric) and kind of full and rich. I'm not very impressed by this nose. It's pretty blah with too much mineral, not enough fullness, and that off note. P: Minerals. Pretty light. A little creek water sweetness. Faint cinnamon. Definitely some burn, though it's not excessive. The burn definitely tastes more substantial than would be expected for what I'm guessing is a mid-40s ABV dram. I do get a touch of sulphur, but it's faint. There really isn't much going on here aside from the burn and mild sweetness. Possible faint vanilla and cherry, but really not much. The burn and lightness remind me a bit of Ezra Brooks, but without so much cinnamon. It's sort of like somebody strained Ezra Brooks through a 5 micron filter. F: Short as the sweetness drains out of it. Then the burn lingers without really any flavor for a long time. At points, I get a waft of sulphur. - Conclusion - It's almost impressive how little flavor is here. I can't imagine this being more than 2 years old. Side by side, Benchmark Old No. 8 (10) has a better profile overall, is smoother, and doesn't have that sulphur flavor. This might only be 6 months old or something. Really, this goes past being boring: it's actively unpleasant. Quality-wise, I think this is pretty close to Proper No. Twelve (9). They're both just so insubstantial. I'm looking at an 8 to a 9. I would take Proper No. Twelve over this, but it's close. I think I'm going with an 8. I mean, this is just so light with so much mineral flavor. I thought Old Tub was a bit too much in that direction, but this is so much more extreme. I'd been curious about this one, so thanks for the opportunity to try it, @Bourbon_Obsessed_Lexington !

Nose is burnt sugar. Thin mouth feel, slightly sweet, then the rye bites, lingering citrus then it begins to get dry and oakey.

Smooth and sweet, wish it had more nose

I get the Apple on the nose. Palate is what you’d expect: vanilla, caramel, marshmallow, etc. I honestly think the ice cube I just put in it hurts the profile. Drink it straight.

Nose is sweet corn whiskey, and corn silk.more so than mellow corn. Taste is also corn whiskey. Lots of vanilla and some oak. Very light and watery due to the low proof. Slight heat. Its like Platt Valley with extra wood tannin.