Basil Hayden's 10 Year Rye (Discontinued)

This was continued, but I managed to get one before it was gone. I usually find Basil Hayden to be unimpressive, but the 10-year bourbon was decent. I'm generally a big fan of Jim Beam, so I'm willing to give them an opportunity to change my opinion on the BH label, though they are running out of chances. A fresh start for this one. Let's see. Nose: Very bready. Sourdough. Rye spice. Lemon citrus. Orange peel. Black pepper. Toasted almond and vanilla. A hint of pistachio. Palate: Some pistachio and milk chocolate. Rye spice. Toasted almond. Gala apple, raisin, and dried apricot. Vanilla, caramel, and ginger snap. Some butterscotch. White pepper. Clove, nutmeg, black pepper, and oak. Finish: Vanilla. Clove, nutmeg, and oak spice. Rye spice and black pepper. Dill. Black licorice. A short, fleeting finish. I really had to search for the notes here. It's underwhelming. Flat, although the notes I could detect were pleasant. It's just muted. 40% ABV is practically a death sentence for any whiskey in any category. There's nothing memorable here. It costs a substantial amount for such a weak whiskey. At $100, this is definitely not worth the price of admission. $50 at most, and that's only considering the impressive age statement compared to other ryes. It's actually the oldest I've owned. But a pitiful ABV is enough to ruin that. It's not a bad whiskey by any means. But the value is awful. 2.75/5.

Acquired this as part of a bundle on sale, otherwise I wouldn't have bought it. Aroma: Very faint and gentle, with only a trace of vanilla and mint detectable. No oak, despite the age statement. Flavor: Tastes like a bourbon, with the slightest hint of very generic rye spice. Mouthfeel is extremely watery and generally indistinct. The mashbill isn't revealed, but I suspect barely legal rye. I'd likely mistake this for a bourbon in a blind tasting. Finish: What finish? No oak, despite the age statement, and genuinely nothing lingers. This is a significant disappointment. I get that some people appreciate low proof whiskey. That's fine. However, this product is not fine. Especially considering the price. One can get a 140 proof powerhouse, single barrel, 10-year-old rye from Barrell for only $10-15 more. Do that, then dilute it, and you'll have much more volume and likely much more flavor. Honestly, I don't understand who thought this would be a good product. Sagamore is 83 proof, less than half the price, and much more flavorful, if you're seeking a good low proof rye. Extremely disappointed with this product, and the Hayden's line overall.

A friend managed to get one of these from a liquor store before they sold out. He brought it over for us to check out the hype and the first thing I notice is the extremely low proof. In my experience, most whiskey that barely qualifies as whiskey is overly diluted, but perhaps I'm just an alcoholic who drinks too much cask strength and am judging this too quickly. Okay, so we open the bottle and pour two glasses to finally evaluate it based on what the liquid offers. The aroma is pleasant with light rye spice, cinnamon, nutmeg, caramel, and vanilla, but they are all very subtle. The taste is so watery; it's really just rye water with a bit of whiskey flavor, and the finish is practically nonexistent. Overall, this is a letdown and not worth pursuing. Honestly, this would be a fantastic bottle for someone to make disappear. You know those stories all whiskey enthusiasts have where a nice bottle was left out around the wrong person, and that person made it vanish before your eyes. I'd be happy to invite that person over to show me the trick with this one to make room for something else.

This producer makes some excellent "sort of Whiskeys" with their Dark Rye and Caribbean varieties. Traditionalists will disapprove of these, but who cares about their opinions? This is my initial straight offering from this brand, so let's see how it compares. The aroma is interesting, with a very subtle rye note layered over a more conventional bourbon character. The initial taste is very delicate, featuring light brown sugar and hints of caramel, plus a little rye spice. Curiously, I detect a subtle almond flavor that I typically associate with Scotch. The finish is soft due to the lower alcohol content, with no harsh burn. I can understand why some might not appreciate this at 10 years old. They desire a powerful, bold rye, whereas this presents itself as a more refined and calm option. In summary, I thoroughly enjoyed this. I might not actively search for it, but I would gladly accept a small serving anytime!

I purchased this during the BCLS summer release and was eager to try it. Nose: Vanilla, maple, oak, caramel - the typical aromas. Nothing extraordinary. Palate: The mouthfeel is very thin. After adding water, there's some mint and pepper, diluted. A little brown sugar is also present. Not much is happening here. Finish: Short and thin. Overall, this is highly disappointing and difficult to believe it's a 10-year-old rye. Comparing it to Michter's Single Barrel rye, there's no contest – Michter's is far superior in flavor. It's not worth $79.99. While I'm glad I tried it, I'd be happier getting my money back. This will definitely be used in cocktails.

Underwhelmed, though not shocked; I genuinely regret this purchase. I had significant doubts about this ten-year-old, especially considering it's only eighty proof and costs seventy dollars. Let's be honest, don't quality rye whiskeys typically begin at ninety proof, at the very least? The ten-year age statement is meaningless as I can't fathom the distillery's reasoning for diluting this to eighty proof, resulting in such a... well... strongly medicinal flavor profile. Oh, I get their reasoning now. Purely a marketing ploy, nothing more. The liquid itself offers no value! I can only hope this performs well in a cocktail, as sipping it straight is an ordeal.