Tastes

Simple bourbon, easy drinking neat.

Decent “whiskey”. I think the expert’s comment that this whiskey is “one-dimensional” is accurate. The port imparts some nice flavor (if you enjoy port), but it just feels flat in your mouth. I’m reminded of Angel’s Envy Bourbon, finished in Port Barrels. You can definitely taste the port in that whiskey, but the flavors are deep and subtle. The Basil Hayden’s just tastes like Rye whiskey mixed with Port wine. Like I could mix up a new bottle in my kitchen. I guess that’s what it really is, but it’d probably be 4 stars for me if it was blended and then finished in a port barrel. Then again, it’d probably be $50+ instead of $35. You get what you pay for sometimes.

Cloves, allspice, and vanilla on the nose. Spicy cinnamon rolls on the palate that fades into a cigar box finish. It’s everything you want in a Rye plus a unique twist with the rum cask finish. Love it.

My favorite Wheat Whiskey taken up another notch with a finish in Mizunara Oak. It’s not quite on the level of smoothness of their Yama, but this just has an amazing, complex flavor. Really great balance.