Basil Hayden's Caribbean Reserve Rye (Discontinued)

Sweet basil haydens... mediocre

This is my second Basil Hayden’s rye whiskey specialty. That sounds oddly specific, but that’s the only way I can frame this review as the follow-up to the BH Dark Rye. Speaking of which, the Dark Rye featured one of my all-time favorite noses, but underwhelmed on the tongue. Let’s see how black strap rum plays in a blend of Kentucky and Canadian rye—hopefully it will be more consistent. Nose: The rum definitely shines through. Sugar cane, molasses, and maple. Blackberry jam, maybe with some blueberry/strawberry jam as well. Sawdust, rye spice, toasted almond, walnut, and cashew. Sun-dried tomato and dried apricot. Pistachio and vanilla. Baking spice and oak. Solid nose. Palate: The molasses, maple, and sugar cane take the forefront again. More of the rye spice, with some rye bread, black pepper, and vanilla. Caramel and apple. Dill and baking spice. Much more bitter than the nose let on. It clashes with the promise of black rum sweetness. Finish: More of the molasses, sugar cane, and maple. Apple and vanilla. Black pepper, clove, nutmeg, and pistachio. Rye spice and dill. Medium length. Solid nose, middling palate, respectable finish. Nothing particularly stands out the way the nose did with the Dark Rye, but this is more balanced at the very least. Much like with the wine in the Dark Rye, the rum component dominates this Caribbean Reserve Rye. Unfortunately, this doesn’t get the same score from me. The Dark Rye nose was so spectacular that I had to make exception. It’s score would’ve suffered were it not for that. Factor in that this ran me an extra $13, and this unremarkable rye whiskey specialty garners a score of 2.75/5.

The nose starts with an unmistakable note of rum that is almost wine like, followed by sweet corn, creamy cereal grains that reminds you of buttered toast, then there are some faint hints of charred oak. It is very inviting to smell, though the impression is given that the rum influence might be a bit strong. The palate is thin and simplistic. Rum is immediately dominant, staying mostly to the front of the mouth while a touch of earthy rye spice hits the back. Very faint charred oak seems to envelop it, with the corn content adding to the sweetness. The finish short to medium with a lingering rum sweetness and slightly chew oakiness. The is painfully simplistic and sweet, with the rum influence definitely being too strong. Along with being 80 proof, it is also dumbed down too much to bring out the complexities that may possibly exist in the individual whiskies. A novel and very easy to drink whiskey, but falls flat when it comes to true enjoyment of a whiskey.

Very good bottle. Nose of oak, caramel and brown sugar. The black strap rum comes through on the taste for a great mix of oaky and sweet.