Distillery: James B. Beam Distilling Company
Region: Frankfurt, Kentucky
Aging: It was originally aged 8 years, but in 2014, the age statements were changed to “Artfully aged” which means that there is no guarantee on how long it has been aged.
ABV: 40%
Proof: 80
Price: $45
Appearance: Dark Cherry
Nose: Very strong scent of dark fruits and maple syrup with light notes of oak, vanilla, and spices. This is extremely nice on the nose. I am impressed and eager to taste this one.
Palate: Surprisingly light on the palate. All I really get is sweet. Mostly a very dark sweetness like maple syrup which is quite nice. This really doesn’t strike me as a typical rye because am not getting spicy notes at all. I don’t what exactly I was expecting, but this one has me surprised.
It is extremely easy to drink and I enjoy the sweet and smooth flavor of this one. It reminds me of a nice breakfast with pancakes and sausage covered in a ton of maple syrup. If I ever feel the need to pair a whiskey with my breakfast, this one would be up there on my list!
Finish: The finish is surprisingly absent. There is nearly no burn and you don’t get much of a finish at all after the initial flavors. The flavors you are left with are quite pleasant and sweet.
Is Basil Hayden Dark Rye Approachable?
Basil Hayden Dark Rye is extremely approachable. While it doesn’t have a ton of bold flavors, its advantage is that it is an extremely well-balanced sweet whiskey that is shockingly easy to drink.
Is Basil Hayden Dark Rye Complex?
Basily Hayden Dark Rye is not an extremely complex whiskey. It does what it does well. It’s pretty one-dimensional, but that one dimension is done well if you’re into sweet maple and dark fruit whiskeys.
What are Basil Hayden Dark Rye’s strongest attributes/flavors?
Basil Hayden Dark Rye’s strongest attribute is definitely how easy it is to drink. I wouldn’t say it’s my favorite whiskey, but this is definitely one I would share if I were trying to get a non-whiskey drinker into whiskey.
Is Basil Hayden Dark Rye a go-to whiskey?
Basil Hayden Dark Rye wouldn’t be a go-to whiskey for me because it lacks complexity. The one-dimensional sweetness is okay for a drink here and there, but overall, I would go for a whiskey with a bit more to it.
Is Basil Hayden Dark Rye priced accurately to its quality?
Yes, Basil Hayden Dark Rye is priced accurately to its quality. It offers a very unique flavor profile and is extremely easy to drink. I think these qualities give it a slight leg up on the original Basil Hayden whiskey and puts its price point a little higher due to its uniqueness.
Let Us Know What You Think
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