Our host shared he wanted to start with the Basil Hayden’s one as it was an ‘outlier’ in flavour profile and approach. He also shared the reason he wanted to focus on Rye is the ‘liberties’ that can be taken to explore a range of combinations without any major restrictions.
Hence this was not simply matured in a Port cask…. it actually had Port simply blended with the Kentucky Straight Rye and Alberta Rye!
Which I somehow hadn’t clued into until after our tasting… no wonder our notes keep coming back to cherries and port!
Here is what we thought…
Basil Hayden’s Dark Rye 40%
- Colour – Such a vibrant ruby red it was unreal! (the photo does NOT do justice to the colour!)
- Nose – Started off a bit peculiar – like it was whiskey at all! Then shifted into orange, cloves, a bit musty and metallic, old wood polish, then increasingly the black cherries of the port became more and more pronounced, peaking behind was some vanilla custard… after the 1st sip, it took a sour almost sharp quality, lots of wood, vanilla and above all cherries
- Palate – Sour fruits, dark cherries, spice comes in from behind… better on the 2nd sip, oily, sweet… while quite linear had different dimensions, becoming sweeter and sweeter with each sip, the port element remains strong, wood and even a bit of whey
- Finish – Definitely there
Fresh out of the bottle it was a good place to start – while the three elements were not melding together cohesively, it did make for an interesting interplay. Unlike most where port is an accent from being matured in ex-port pipes, this was full on port… which clearly is due to it literally being added to the mix!
We set it aside and when we returned? It was like coconut water that has gone a bit off… after the cask strength and diverse other ryes, this one at 40% seemed watered down… back to being slightly queer or different.
While it may not be for everyone, it was certainly interesting to try! After later reading the notes it might go well on the rocks, perhaps with a twist of orange or as a cocktail such a Sazerac of Whisky Sour.
What did the folks at Basil Hayden’s have to say?
Blending is an art form, and our Dark Rye is your chance to own what might very well be a masterpiece.
It all begins with Kentucky Rye, providing a firm foundation of spice, oak, dried fruit and subtle molasses undertones for this release to build upon. From there, Canadian Rye from our award-winning Alberta Distillery is skillfully layered in. A touch of California Port, and its complementary notes of ripe fruit, provides the third and final layer to a whiskey just as at home on the rocks as it is in a cocktail.
Full in flavor, yet delicately nuanced, you’d be wise to grab a bottle of our Dark Rye to experience this magical blend for yourself.
- Color – Deep, rich amber with ruby undertones
- Aroma – Oaky notes balanced with dark berries and molasses
- Taste – Complex blend of caramel, dried fruit, and oak with back notes of spice and a rounded mouth feel
- Finish – Lingering dried fruit with a hint of sweetness and rye spice.
What else was on our Kentucky Rye menu?
- New Riff Kentucky Straight Rye 50% – New kid on the block with one of their early batches, aged at least 4 years
- Wilderness Trail Single Barrel 15017 Kentucky Straight Rye 56.5% – Not just from a single barrel but also a small batch that produced only 203 bottles at cask strength!
- Angel’s Envy Rum Finished Rye 50% – Clearly the ‘premium’ end of the spectrum finished in Caribbean rum barrels
Interesting in receiving more Whisky Lady posts? Why not follow on:
- WordPress https://whiskylady.co/
- FaceBook Whisky Lady in India – https://www.facebook.com/WhiskyLadyIN
- Twitter @WhiskyLadyIN
Whisky Lady 