Basil Hayden's Dark Rye Review

Welcome to the review for Basil Hayden's Dark Rye. This is Basil Hayden's attempt to combine their rye whiskey, Canadian whiskey, and port. This is already our third review of Basil Hayden's following Basil Hayden's Bourbon and Basil Hayden's Two By Two.

As always, let's get started with the details!

Manufacturer: Beam Suntory (Jim Beam)

Age: Unknown

Location Produced: Kentucky Springs Distilling Company, Frankfort, KY

Mash Bill: Unknown

Aroma (from manufacturer): Oaky notes balanced with dark berries and molasses

Taste (from manufacturer): Complex blend of caramel, dried fruit, and oak with back notes of spice and a rounded mouth feel

Finish (from manufacturer): Lingering dried fruit with a hint of sweetness and rye spice.

Alcohol: 40%

Who is this for?: People who want a smooth easy drinking whiskey. People new to bourbon and whiskey.

Cost (Ohio): $44.99 + tax

Let's start the review. 

Taste - Score 27 out of 35

On the nose, we pick up brown sugar, honey, floral and sweet. This is on the lighter side compared to most bourbons.

For the taste we picked up apple with hints of maple syrup. One of the things we noticed are how there is no burn and how easy this is to drink. 

Smoothness/Finish - Score 20 out of 25

People who prefer a burn, probably won't like this but individuals who want something a bit less harsh than traditional bourbons should flock to this. For us, it went down smooth and quick with a fair amount of citrus flavor and little to no burn.

Intangibles: Color/Appearance - Score 11.5 out of 15.

This whiskey lives up to the Dark Rye name. You can see how dark when compared with Maker's Mark and Ancient Ancient Age 10 star. It's so dark, it almost has a red tint to it. It's a very unique look in the glass.

In terms of the packaging, it lives up to the Basil Hayden's brand with the same paper label and wood and metal belt buckle.

Availability - Score 3 out of 5

When this was first released, availability was few and far between. However, lately we've been seeing this on the shelves more and more. It's not a sure thing, but it's trending up on availability.

Overall Value - Score 14 out of 20

At $44.99, we don't think we would buy this over regular Basil Hayden's ($39.99). What we do like about this is that it gives an option for those new to bourbon or who prefer something on the lighter end that is more approachable. While this isn't our everyday drinking bourbon, it is enjoyable in it's own right and offers plenty of taste and value for a 40% bourbon. 

Final Score: 75.5 out of 100 - Solid

Note: This review was done by Mark with help from The Duchess. The bottle was purchased at the Grandview Yard Giant Eagle, in beautiful, Grandview, OH