Nose: Rich, chocolate orange, oak, vanilla w/ anise and a hint of clove. Palate: Soft and creamy mouthfeel, sweet with vanilla, citrus spice, salted caramel and a note of mint. Finish: Moderately long, damp with trailing citrus notes and oak. Comments: In a world where lately the big limited editions are high proof, Basil Hayden stays true to its brand with an 80 proof pour that delivers a lot of flavor – while maintaining the subtle/nuance that the brand is known for. Basil Hayden was 8 year age stated originally, having lost that a few years back – but this shows how lovely the whiskey can be with a few extra years in the barrel. It is Basil Hayden with the volume turned up (not ‘cranked up, break the knob off’, but definitely a step or two up). The citrus notes (very ‘rye-like’, which isn’t a surprise given the high-rye mashbill) are familiar, but the chocolate was a nice touch that I don’t usually get with Basil Hayden. I can’t find anything here which would leave fans of Basil Hayden disappointed, and a fair amount that I think they’re really enjoy.