Steering to the west, we kick start the month of April with a dose of Bourbon, Basil Hayden’s Red Wine Cask Finish. This small batch whiskey might not be popular amongst us commoners, but the distillery certainly is – Jim Beam‘s Clermont distillery at Kentucky.

This line of expression gets its name from Meredith Basil Hayden Sr, a rye farmer who distilled bourbon with a higher concentrate of rye at its core. He believed that the spiced notes, characteristic of rye  would complement the sweeter notes of corn. Booker Noe of Jim Beam’s concocted and, in a sense, re-introduced this rye affinite line up in 1992, keeping the name in commemoration of Meredith’s contributions.

The Red Wine Cask Finish is a blend of the classic Basil Hayden high rye mash bill and bourbon whiskey that is partially aged in red wine casks from California. BHs used to be aged for a minimum of 8 years, but a while ago, it evolved largely into a No Age Statement lineup, being rephrased as being “artfully aged.” The bottle, however, does look the part, with its redish hue, rather straight forward contours and a cool belt-like pairing, bearing the whiskey’s initials.

Abv: 40%

Eye : Auburn, polished mahagony | Natural Colouring

Nose : Caramel and fresh wood, wood polish infused with herbal nuances and red apples. Dried fruits and sultanas, red stone fruits and cinnamon sticks with a light, mild char.

Taste : Wood and caramel, mixed in with cloves and cinnamon sticks. Dried fruits, rum ‘n raisins, with a herbal, medicinal after taste, similar to licorice and star anise.

Finish : Medium to Long | Caramel and licorice, with woody nuances that tapers slowly

This Red Wine Finish brings a lovely, welcoming and surprisingly long finish; not to mention the warmth and comfort it envelops both the palate and the nose. It’s not complex, and for a young whisky, it is still wholesome, especially for the price. For a person who doesn’t run for Bourbons at the first go, this one did not disappoint and is sheer value for money.

Preference : At 40%, there’s certainly no need for dilution owing to its smooth and rather subtle character. But then again, you are the master of your bottle!

Give it a shot, let me know your thoughts!

Slainte Mhath!