Basil Hayden Toast is like an old married couple of 50 plus years, sitting on the porch in mid summer, silently rocking their chairs after having run out of things to say to one another. It must be said that I love when distilleries try new things. I’m also always down to try those things, walking a line far from purist and willing to dabble in the dark arts of experimentation. I think Toast is an attempt at that experimentation, but it sadly falls flat, making one ask why it exist. The side of the bottle reads “(s)pecially crafted new toast-charred oak barrels impart a unique flavor to this Kentucky straight bourbon whiskey, revealing layered notes of toasted wood and sweet caramel, always with the subtle complexity for which Basil Hayden is known and loved.” The problem is that bourbons tend to highlight wood and caramel already. Basil Hayden itself already does this quite well in their core line bourbon. So when you bring a new item to market at an elevated price, one expects and elevated experience. But it’s not. NOSE: The nose is fresh and bright, shining a light on spun sugars, caramel, lemon crème, vanilla, oatmeal, and a hint of sweet honey barbecue sauce. There are no doubt toasted notes, but they’re so subtle one would be excused they missed them. PALATE: On the tongue this dram is sweet and more herbal than you’d expect. I found dried leaves and fresh basil alongside raisin and fig. Like the nose, there is some pleasant freshness here and apple and pear piped in at the very end. WASH: There is nothing terribly alluring about the finish. It’s there, then it’s gone. There is a hint of residual heat that subsides within a few moments. However, I did find there was an encore with the apple, only this time it brought cinnamon on stage as an additional closer. CONCLUSION: It’s a decent dram overall, but the extra cost over a standard bottle of Basil Hayden simply isn’t justified here. Bottle Exchange: Josh C. (2/21/22)