Basil Hayden Cognac Cask Reserve Bourbon Whiskey

Basil Hayden's first new bourbon in three years, announced in September 2026, doesn't chase proof — it chases wood. Cognac Cask Reserve takes the brand's signature high-rye Kentucky straight bourbon, the roughly 27% rye recipe Booker Noe revived from Old Grand-Dad for the original Small Batch Collection in 1992, and gives it a secondary finish in French oak casks with an unusually deep history: barrels that held Cognac exclusively for 20 to 25 years before they ever met bourbon. Two decades of brandy seasoning in the wood is what makes the spec interesting. It stays bottled at 80 proof (40% ABV), the same gentle strength Basil Hayden has always used, so the finish reads as an added layer rather than an overhaul. Master Distiller Freddie Noe describes it as a twist on the profile people already know. Expect dried apricot, ripe pear, caramel, and vanilla on the nose with light floral notes, opening into dried fruit, orange peel, caramel, vanilla bean, and Basil Hayden's characteristic soft rye spice, finishing smooth with sweet oak, baking spice, and gentle warmth. A limited edition built for the bourbon drinker who also keeps a bottle of VSOP on the shelf — and the first release in a series the brand is positioning as a passport to flavors from around the world.

Buy Basil Hayden Cognac Cask Reserve Bourbon Whiskey online with fast shipping right to your door.