Basil Hayden Malted Rye is one of the more genuinely novel things a major Kentucky distillery has put on a shelf, and it is easy to miss why if you read the label too quickly. This is not a rye whiskey in the usual sense. It is a rye malt whiskey, a separate and rarely used category, built from a mashbill of 100 percent malted rye. Malting the grain before distillation changes it fundamentally: enzymes develop, starches convert differently, and the aggressive peppery bite most drinkers associate with rye softens into something rounder and sweeter. What comes out is recognizably rye in its bones but far gentler on approach, with a bready, faintly floral character that has more in common with a malt whisky than with a traditional Kentucky rye. Basil Hayden was the first major Kentucky producer to release one, and the brand was the logical home for it. Created by Booker Noe in 1992 as part of the original Small Batch Bourbon Collection, Basil Hayden has always been the lighter and more approachable member of that family, and over the last decade it has quietly become the James B. Beam Distilling Co.'s experimental line, working within the deliberate constraint of an 80 proof bottling. Malted Rye fits that brief exactly. It is distilled and bottled in Clermont and Frankfort, Kentucky, carries the Kentucky Straight designation, and is named for Meredith Basil Hayden Sr., the 18th century distiller who pioneered heavier rye content in Kentucky mashbills. At 40 percent alcohol by volume it drinks easily neat or over ice, and it makes an unusually elegant Manhattan, where the softened spice lets the vermouth speak instead of fighting it.
ABV / Proof
| ABV |
40% |
| Proof |
80 |
| Size |
750ml |
| Country |
United States |
| Region |
Kentucky |
| Distillery |
James B. Beam Distilling Co., Clermont and Frankfort, Kentucky |
| Producer |
Beam Suntory |
| Category |
Kentucky Straight Rye Malt Whiskey |
| Expression |
Malted Rye |
| Age |
No Age Statement |
| Mashbill |
100% Malted Rye |
| Maturation |
New charred oak barrels |
Tasting Notes
Color: Light amber with a warm golden cast.
Nose: Delicately floral with a soft dill note, opening into oak, caramel and gentle baking spice.
Palate: Cinnamon and sweet vanilla up front, then toasted rye bread, honey and a light almond nuttiness. Soft and rounded rather than sharp.
Finish: Short to medium, clean and lightly warming, with chocolate and a last touch of warm spice.
FAQ
Q: What is rye malt whiskey?
A: It is a separate legal category from rye whiskey, requiring at least 51 percent malted rye. Basil Hayden Malted Rye goes further and uses 100 percent malted rye.
Q: How is it different from a regular rye?
A: Malting the rye before distillation mellows the sharp pepper and dill notes typical of rye, producing a softer, sweeter, more bread forward whiskey.
Q: Is this the same as Basil Hayden Dark Rye?
A: No. Dark Rye is a separate release blending Kentucky rye with Canadian rye and a touch of California port. Malted Rye is a single 100 percent malted rye mashbill with no blending or finishing.
Q: How old is it?
A: There is no age statement on the bottle. It carries the Kentucky Straight designation, which sets a legal minimum and requires an age statement if under four years.
Q: How should I drink it?
A: Neat or over a large cube. At 80 proof it is soft enough for casual sipping, and it makes a notably smooth Manhattan or Old Fashioned.
Q: Where can I buy Basil Hayden Malted Rye online?
A: Available here at Liquor On Broadway while stock lasts, with fast insured shipping nationwide.
