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Ancient Age vs Basil Hayden’s
Comparing Ancient Age and Basil Hayden’s is a closer contest than it looks — both are high-rye bourbons, separated mainly by price (~$14 – $18 vs. ~$38 – $45).
Key Specifications
| Feature | Ancient Age | Basil Hayden’s |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 75% corn, 15% rye, 10% malted barley | 63% corn, 27% rye, 10% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | No age statement |
| Proof | 80 proof (40% ABV) | 80 proof (40% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$14 – $18 ~$26 less | ~$38 – $45 |
- Ancient Age and Basil Hayden’s do not publish an official mash bill.
- US shelf prices as of 2026-08; they vary widely by market.
AG’s Rating and AG’s Notes
Ancient Age
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Basil Hayden’s
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Ancient Age Basil Hayden’s
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
spice 4/6 spice: Ancient Age 4 out of 10, Basil Hayden’s 6 out of 10
fruit 4/5 fruit: Ancient Age 4 out of 10, Basil Hayden’s 5 out of 10
nuttiness 4/3 nuttiness: Ancient Age 4 out of 10, Basil Hayden’s 3 out of 10
sweetness 5/5 sweetness: Ancient Age 5 out of 10, Basil Hayden’s 5 out of 10
oak 3/3 oak: Ancient Age 3 out of 10, Basil Hayden’s 3 out of 10
heat 2/2 heat: Ancient Age 2 out of 10, Basil Hayden’s 2 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Rye spice is the dividing line here.
- Ancient Age: The bottom rung of the Buffalo Trace ladder and priced accordingly. Thin and simple at 80 proof, but it is recognisably the Mash Bill #2 recipe and it does its job in a highball without complaint.
- Basil Hayden’s: Built on the high-rye Old Grand-Dad mash but bottled at just 80 proof, which makes it the lightest thing in the Beam range by a distance. Peppery and herbal, but very thin — the price reflects the packaging more than the liquid.
Which One Should You Choose?
- Go with Ancient Age if you want the cheapest honest mixer in the lineup and you are not drinking it neat.
- Go with Basil Hayden’s if you want an unusually light, peppery, low-proof pour and you do not want any weight in the glass.
Best enjoyed cocktails, highball (Ancient Age); neat, rocks, highball (Basil Hayden’s).