The Bourbon & Blazers cocktail pairs Basil Hayden Toast with blueberries. See what the Rowing Blazers partnership means for your glass.
The blueberries in the Bourbon & Blazers cocktail are there for their color. Basil Hayden and Rowing Blazers say the fruit is a nod to Rowing Blazers’ signature navy hue, which is a fun reason to put berries in a bourbon drink.
The rest of the recipe is short: Basil Hayden Toast, plus those blueberries.
The two brands announced the partnership in New York on September 24, 2026, and both have New York ties. Rowing Blazers was founded in the city in 2017, and Suntory Global Spirits, the company behind Basil Hayden, is headquartered there.
So what does a preppy clothing label bring to a bourbon shelf?
What Basil Hayden and Rowing Blazers Announced
The partnership is built around a shared idea the brands call “Classics, Reimagined.” The plan covers collaborative content, experiences and limited-edition drops that roll out through the fall and holiday season.
Here’s what’s missing. The release names no products, no dates and no prices for the drops. It promises “exciting collaboration drops to come,” and that’s as specific as it gets.
I can’t tell you what a bourbon-and-blazer drop looks like yet, but somebody in New York is already refreshing an Instagram page to find out.
What you can do today is follow @BasilHayden and @RowingBlazers
Why a Bourbon Brand and a Clothing Brand Fit Together
Booker Noe created Basil Hayden in 1992 as part of the Small Batch collection. He drew on bourbons with high-rye mash bills and set out to make one with an approachable taste profile that pushed against what people expected bourbon to be. Rowing Blazers describes its style as a “twisted” take on preppy, rooted in sport, tailoring and collegiate culture. One brand set out to show bourbon can be subtle. The other keeps the codes of the blazer and adds color and irreverence.
Regan Clarke, vice president of American Whiskey at Suntory Global Spirits, put it this way: “As ‘the Bourbon Born to Surprise,’ Basil Hayden is known for adding a twist to the familiar so partnering with Rowing Blazers, known for their distinct way of taking something classic and making it feel fresh and unexpected, immediately felt aligned.”
Tommy Cissel, Senior Collaborations and PR Manager at Rowing Blazers, said: “Rowing Blazers and Basil Hayden share a belief that classics are meant to be reimagined.” He added: “From bourbon to prep, we take timeless traditions and make them our own.”
What Goes Into the Bourbon & Blazers Cocktail
The signature drink is called the Bourbon & Blazers. It uses Basil Hayden Toast and blueberries, and the brands say the berries are a nod to Rowing Blazers’ signature navy hue.
It takes real nerve to justify a fruit with a color story, and I respect it.
The brands haven’t shared measurements. What follows is my suggested starting point, not their recipe.
Start with the bourbon. Basil Hayden’s recipe was inspired by high-rye mash bills, and rye is the spicy grain in a bourbon. That’s why high-rye bourbons tend to taste peppery and lighter on the palate than corn-heavy ones.
Then the berries. A ripe blueberry is sweet and tart, with a little grip from the skin. Muddle a few in the glass and the skins give up their dark, jammy side. Drop them in whole and you get something fresher and lighter. Either way, build it cold, with big ice, so the bourbon’s spice doesn’t wash out under the fruit.
Pair it with something salty. Roasted salted almonds or a sharp cheddar both work, because salt tends to make berry sweetness taste brighter and the bourbon taste rounder.
Taste, adjust, and make the Bourbon & Blazers cocktail your own way.
The New York Angle Is Real, and It Travels
Both companies have New York roots. Rowing Blazers was founded in the city in 2017. Suntory Global Spirits is headquartered in New York City, and the partnership was announced there. So a New Yorker gets the home-team version: two neighbors making something together.
But the drink doesn’t need a zip code. If you’re in Chicago, Atlanta or Los Angeles, you need a bottle of Basil Hayden Toast and some blueberries. You don’t need a blazer to join in.
Mini FAQ
What is the Bourbon & Blazers cocktail?
It’s the signature cocktail created for the Basil Hayden and Rowing Blazers partnership. It features Basil Hayden Toast and blueberries, and the brands say the fruit is a nod to Rowing Blazers’ signature navy hue. No measurements have been published.
When do the Basil Hayden and Rowing Blazers drops come out?
The brands say collaborative content, experiences and limited-edition drops will roll out throughout the fall and holiday season. No dates or products have been announced. Follow @BasilHayden and @RowingBlazers for updates.
What is Basil Hayden Toast?
Toast is one of Basil Hayden’s expanded expressions, alongside Dark Rye and Golden Rye. Booker Noe crafted Basil Hayden in 1992 as part of the Small Batch collection. The release doesn’t describe Toast’s flavor.
Build the Bourbon & Blazers cocktail your way
Here’s what I’d do. Buy a pint of blueberries, taste the Toast neat first, then build the Bourbon & Blazers cocktail your way. Keep an eye on both Instagram accounts through the holidays for the drops. If the partnership turns out as good as the idea, you won’t need a blazer to enjoy it. You’ll just need a good glass and someone to share it with.
