Basil Hayden Dark Rye Whiskey (750ml)

Other reviews... The first permanent addition to the Basil Hayden's portfolio mingles Kentucky straight rye with Canadian rye, plus a splash of Port-style wine from California. All this yields a warming whiskey that leads with caramel and spice on nose and palate, finishing with a hint of cocoa and a distinctly juicy, almost tart cherry note. Sip or mix. 90 points - wineenthusiast.com

...Simple and sweet up front, it feels thin, like fake maple syrup, with more sweet vanilla carried on a rather light body, almost resembling some rice whiskies. 84 points - whiskyadvocate.com

...A blend of Kentucky straight rye, Canadian rye from Alberta Distillery, and California port. Dark Rye was the first permanent line extension in the Basil Hayden lineup, initially released in 2017. Now four years later, the brand has experienced a bottle design refresh consistent with other bottles in the portfolio. Notably, Basil Hayden’s label has changed from “Basil Hayden’s” to simply “Basil Hayden” on all bottles as part of the redesign... A full-flavored fruit-forward affair that continues to deliver four years after its initial release. Not every whiskey is for everyone, and Dark Rye is certainly a good example of this. Its fruit-forward almost to a fault, with maybe a bit too much focus on the maraschino cherry flavor note which will undoubtedly be off-putting for some. Is Beam cheating time by blending with port instead of finishing in port barrels? Sure they are. But a heavy port-forward, readily-accessible, and fairly-priced whiskey is the result, and my guess is most of Basil Hayden’s fan base doesn’t really care if the port is added directly to the blend so long as they enjoy the end result. If you enjoy both red wine and whiskey, Dark Rye will probably be something you’ll enjoy as well. - breakingbourbon.com