Tastes

Basil Hayden Toast is like an old married couple of 50 plus years, sitting on the porch in mid summer, silently rocking their chairs after having run out of things to say to one another. It must be said that I love when distilleries try new things. I’m also always down to try those things, walking a line far from purist and willing to dabble in the dark arts of experimentation. I think Toast is an attempt at that experimentation, but it sadly falls flat, making one ask why it exist. The side of the bottle reads “(s)pecially crafted new toast-charred oak barrels impart a unique flavor to this Kentucky straight bourbon whiskey, revealing layered notes of toasted wood and sweet caramel, always with the subtle complexity for which Basil Hayden is known and loved.” The problem is that bourbons tend to highlight wood and caramel already. Basil Hayden itself already does this quite well in their core line bourbon. So when you bring a new item to market at an elevated price, one expects and elevated experience. But it’s not. NOSE: The nose is fresh and bright, shining a light on spun sugars, caramel, lemon crème, vanilla, oatmeal, and a hint of sweet honey barbecue sauce. There are no doubt toasted notes, but they’re so subtle one would be excused they missed them. PALATE: On the tongue this dram is sweet and more herbal than you’d expect. I found dried leaves and fresh basil alongside raisin and fig. Like the nose, there is some pleasant freshness here and apple and pear piped in at the very end. WASH: There is nothing terribly alluring about the finish. It’s there, then it’s gone. There is a hint of residual heat that subsides within a few moments. However, I did find there was an encore with the apple, only this time it brought cinnamon on stage as an additional closer. CONCLUSION: It’s a decent dram overall, but the extra cost over a standard bottle of Basil Hayden simply isn’t justified here. Bottle Exchange: Josh C. (2/21/22)

This was a solid bourbon overall, but lacks the refinement of others readily available for a similar price point. The low proof (40%) is a bit on the boring side. Is it smooth? Absolutely, but that comes at the cost of complexity and quite frankly, fun-factor. There’s simply not much to comment on. It’s bourbon, and that’s about it.

For those familiar with Compass Box, you know the type of quality you’re getting into. This dram is delicious and calculated. While I wouldn’t consider it a standout for Compass Box, there’s no denying it’s a high-tier dram that delivers a consistent experience one would expect from the Blended-Scotch King. 6/10/21 - Compass Box Sampler

While now relinquished to a “relic rye,” A.W. Laws Secale Straight Rye was obviously a step in the right direction for a distillery I hope continues to hone its craft and make its presence known in the whisk(e)y world. For years, I’ve held onto this bottle, knowing that I’d eventually give it its due. There was something so enjoyable, so lovely that I couldn’t stay away from. I’d revisit it every few months over the course of several years, satisfied by its offering and longing to try more from the CO based distillery. Yet its not until now, when this bottle will give up the ghost, that the matter seems all the more urgent. It’s time. FIRST IMPRESSIONS - No doubt this is a smooth rye, with spicy notes throughout. The label claims “(i)t’s aggressive, full of character and unapologetic,” but unlike, say something like a Willett 4-Year Family Estate, it’s not overtly bold, nor does it immediately flaunt its profile in boisterous, more pronounced ways. It’s more subtle and refined, yet not too much so that it becomes dull. This rye has a nice place and might very well act as a “gateway rye” for new whisk(e)y drinkers. NOSE - The nose is quite frankly a culmination of traditional rye offerings and unexpected directions. It was reminiscent of walking on a trail during the early days of fall. I found wet leaves and an earthy musk alongside vanilla cream, burnt caramel, and just a hint of anise. A bit more time with it also laid bare buttery kettle corn and believe it or not, melon. PALATE - The palate slides in light to medium bodied and on the dry side. I found a predominant woody character that all other elements fell nicely inside. There was a delicious buttery tone with almond, sea salt, hay, corn, and an almost trivial herbal/grass note. At 100 proof, it really does surprise you with how easy and enjoyable it is to sip. WASH - all things considered, the wash doesn’t linger all that long, but it’s genuinely more satisfying than others I’ve had. This hits both the roof of your mouth and the back of the tongue as you complete the experience. There’s a nice heat that swells, falls, then reappears gradually as you sit. Over all, the wash caps off the refined experience you’ve seen throughout. It’s quite well done. WHAT I APPRECIATED - This rye is somewhat gentle for a newcomer while offering complexity to those with a deeper understanding of their own palate. I tend to gravitate toward bolder, more lively ryes, but this bottle is fun, lighthearted, and offers something quite interesting. CONCLUSION - Sadly, this bottle isn’t available anymore; however, if A.W. Laws has taken the budding/adolescent characteristics of this rye and added it into their current offerings with a bit more aging, whisk(e)y enthusiasts will be REALLY please. What is/was here is good and an even better starting place for the future. If you like ryes and you’re looking for and alternative to the standard KY Ryes, buy a ticket for CO and check them out. I believe you’ll enjoy the trip. (FWF Share #70 [4/13/2018]) Opened: 4/13/18 Finished: 1/17/21

Sagamore Spirit Straight Rye maxes out at “meh.” It’s one of the more boring ryes I’ve had over the years. One expects a rye to have some gusto, offering little pockets of spice and heat and wow as you savor the typical deeper complexities. This rye simply doesn’t have any of that. It’s dull and subdued and quite watery and fleeting. Sadly, like its wash, it leaves nothing behind to really remember with one exception: the memory of how it seemed miss the mark in surprising ways. While I really think this could be something delicious with more aging under its belt (maybe another 2-4 years), this offering simply can’t be justified compared to other ryes in the same price range. Try it to expand your palate and explore, not as a dram to snuggle into. Flaviar (free bottle [September]) Opened: 10/3/20 Finished: 12/1/20

There’s definitely something here. While it’s not necessarily my particular bag, I see why one might find this whisk(e)y quite intriguing. It bods well in hot toddies, and if you’re looking for a unique, corn-forward experience with a sugary profile, this will do. Flaviar (free bottle [June]) Opened: 7/7/20 Finished: 1/15/21

I liked this quite a bit. It’s a good bourbon, but $70 a bottle is a bit steep. When you can get Blade and Bow or a heartier Henry McKenna 100, there are just some better options for less. On the nose, spun sugars, caramel, overripe banana, nice corn essence, wood chips, herbal tones, an extremely subtle nicely cooked steak, latex paint, damp forest, vanilla fudge w/ cranberries. The palate shows really nice wood tones, sweet caramel, lite lemon zest, green herbs, with a sweet finish, quickly turning dry. There’s a hint of salt. The finish is fleeting, leaving almost nothing behind. Think “licking dried oak.” There’s a tiny heat that pops, then it camps out for a second, then cleans up nicely with almost no trace. Again, this is fun and honestly pretty good, but not ground shaking.