This limited edition creatively finishes Basil Hayden’s signature bourbon in French Cognac casks, creating a unique bourbon experience with a worldly finish.

CLERMONT, Ky., Sept. 2, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Today, Basil Hayden, the Bourbon Born to Surprise, announced the introduction of a new limited-edition release: Basil Hayden® Cognac Cask Reserve.

What is Basil Hayden Cognac Cask Reserve?

• Basil Hayden Cognac Cask Reserve is a new, limited-edition bourbon that retains the brand’s signature high-rye mashbill and 80-proof bottling, while combining Kentucky bourbon craftsmanship with French cognac character, creating a beautifully balanced bourbon.
• Embodying the concept of “something familiar made new,” the spirit is finished in specially selected French oak casks that previously held Cognac exclusively for 20–25 years, bringing decades of Cognac character to Basil Hayden’s signature light, bright and approachable flavor profile while imparting layers of elegant complexity.
• The first expression in the Basil Hayden portfolio to reimagine the brand’s approachable high-rye profile as a passport to flavors from around the world.

What does Cognac Cask Reserve taste like, and how should it be enjoyed?

• The Cognac Cask finish reveals tasting notes of warm caramel sweetness and dried fruit, enriched by Basil Hayden’s signature subtle spice, vanilla and oak, adding depth and complexity to this limited release.
• Best enjoyed neat, over ice or in sparkling bourbon cocktails like the signature Basil Hayden 75 or the Sparkling Bourbon Sidecar.

“Basil Hayden Cognac Cask reflects our commitment to honoring the brand’s original bourbon while continuing to explore what’s possible within the category,” says Freddie Noe, eighth generation master distiller at the James B. Beam Distilling Co. “This expression was thoughtfully crafted to deliver a distinctive yet approachable experience. French Cognac casks let us take our Basil Hayden signature profile that people know and love and put a twist on it, and we’re incredibly proud to share it with bourbon and cognac drinkers alike.”

Where can I purchase it?
Basil Hayden Cognac Cask Reserve is now available for purchase at exclusive retailers with an SRP of $49.99. To discover more about the release and news from Basil Hayden, visit basilhaydenbourbon.com and @BasilHayden on Instagram.

About Basil Hayden
Created in 1992 by Booker Noe as part of the original Small Batch collection, Basil Hayden was crafted to showcase a different side of bourbon. Booker set out to open people’s minds to what bourbon could be, using a high-rye mash bill to create a brighter, more approachable bourbon that challenged the category’s traditionally bold and intimidating expectations.

The Basil Hayden whiskey portfolio spans three distinct tiers – Versatility, Creativity and Rarity – designed to offer distinct whiskey experiences across a range of occasions and preferences. Across the portfolio, Basil Hayden continues to push the boundaries of American whiskey through distinctive mash bills, finishes, blends and age statements, inviting consumers to experience whiskey in new ways and occasions beyond the traditional bourbon moment. Core expressions include Basil Hayden Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, Basil Hayden Golden Rye Whiskey, Basil Hayden Toast, Basil Hayden Dark Rye and Basil Hayden 10-Year-Old Bourbon, alongside limited-edition releases that showcase the brand’s ongoing creativity and whiskey-making expertise.

About Suntory Global Spirits
As a world leader in premium spirits, Suntory Global Spirits inspires the brilliance of life, by creating rich experiences for people, in harmony with nature. Known for its craftsmanship of premium American whiskeys, including Jim Beam® and Maker’s Mark®; Japanese whiskies, including Yamazaki® and Hibiki®; and leading Scotch brands including Laphroaig®, Suntory Global Spirits also produces leading brands such as El Tesoro® and Hornitos® tequilas and Roku® gin, and is a world leader in Ready-To-Drink cocktails, with brands like -196™ (minus one-nine-six) and On The Rocks™ Bartender Created Cocktails.

A global company with approximately 6,000 employees in nearly 30 countries, Suntory Global Spirits is driven by its core values of Growing for Good, Yatte Minahare and Giving Back to Society, and aims to have a positive impact on the planet, consumers and communities. Headquartered in New York City, Suntory Global Spirits is a subsidiary of Suntory Holdings Limited of Japan. For more information, visit www.suntoryglobalspirits.com and www.drinksmart.com.

Enjoy Responsibly.

Basil Hayden® Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Finished in Cognac Casks, 40% Alc./Vol. ©2026 James B. Beam Distilling Co., Clermont, KY.

Media Contact:
basilhayden@toarticulate.com

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SOURCE Suntory Global Spirits