Basil Hayden Cognac Cask Reserve Bourbon Whiskey
80 proof (40% ABV) | 750mL | No age statement | Finished in ex-Cognac French oak — Basil Hayden Cognac Cask Reserve takes the brand's signature light, spicy Kentucky straight bourbon and finishes it in ex-Cognac French oak barrels — casks seasoned for 20–25 years in France's Cognac region.
Basil Hayden built its name on an approachable, high-rye style that drinks lighter than its proof suggests. The Cognac cask finish adds a second dimension: the same seasoned French oak behind fine cognac lends dried-fruit and floral notes the standard bourbon never shows. It is a bourbon first — finished, not blended — and a natural bridge for whiskey drinkers curious about French oak.
Tasting notes
Dried apricot, grape, and honey on the nose over vanilla and light rye spice. The palate is silky and fruit-forward — white grape, dried fig, caramel, gentle pepper — with soft oak and a smooth, elegant finish.
Why buy it from Del Mesa Liquor
- Ex-Cognac French oak finish — 20–25-year seasoned barrels
- 80 proof — Basil Hayden's signature easy-drinking style
- Fruit and floral depth over classic bourbon sweetness
- A gift-worthy twist on a familiar favorite
How to serve it
Neat or on a single cube — the Cognac-cask fruit shines brightest without mixers. It also makes a refined, lower-proof Old Fashioned.
Frequently asked questions
Is this a bourbon or a cognac?
A bourbon — Kentucky straight bourbon whiskey finished in barrels that previously held cognac. No cognac is blended in.
What does the Cognac cask add?
Dried-fruit, grape, and floral notes from the seasoned French oak, layered over Basil Hayden's light, spicy bourbon character.