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Bardstown Bourbon Company Origin Series High Wheat vs Basil Hayden’s
Bardstown Bourbon Company Origin Series High Wheat and Basil Hayden’s sit on opposite sides of a familiar divide: a new-wave, wheat-forward craft style versus an old-guard, rye-forward classic.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Bardstown Bourbon Company Origin Series High Wheat | Basil Hayden’s |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Wheated Bourbon | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 53% corn, 39% wheat, 8% malted barley | 63% corn, 27% rye, 10% malted barley |
| Age | 6 years | No age statement |
| Proof | 106 proof (53% ABV) +26 proof | 80 proof (40% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$50 – $55 | ~$38 – $45 ~$11 less |
- Basil Hayden’s does 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
Bardstown Bourbon Company Origin Series High Wheat
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Basil Hayden’s
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Bardstown Bourbon Company Origin Series High Wheat Basil Hayden’s
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
spice 3/6 spice: Bardstown Bourbon Company Origin Series High Wheat 3 out of 10, Basil Hayden’s 6 out of 10
fruit 8/5 fruit: Bardstown Bourbon Company Origin Series High Wheat 8 out of 10, Basil Hayden’s 5 out of 10
heat 5/2 heat: Bardstown Bourbon Company Origin Series High Wheat 5 out of 10, Basil Hayden’s 2 out of 10
sweetness 7/5 sweetness: Bardstown Bourbon Company Origin Series High Wheat 7 out of 10, Basil Hayden’s 5 out of 10
oak 5/3 oak: Bardstown Bourbon Company Origin Series High Wheat 5 out of 10, Basil Hayden’s 3 out of 10
nuttiness 2/3 nuttiness: Bardstown Bourbon Company Origin Series High Wheat 2 out of 10, Basil Hayden’s 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Rye spice is the dividing line here.
- Bardstown Bourbon Company Origin Series High Wheat: Because wheat makes up a massive 39% of the mash bill, this pour trades the aggressive spice of rye for a softer, oily mouthfeel. Expect bright fruit notes like ripe apricot and lemon on the nose, transitioning to pastry dough, light oak, and a creamy creme brulee sweetness balanced by a mild peppery backbone.
- 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 Bardstown Bourbon Company Origin Series High Wheat if you want a softer, fruit-forward, contemporary profile with a richer, oily texture and lower emphasis on traditional oak with significantly more proof behind it.
- 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 at a slightly lower price point.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks (Bardstown Bourbon Company Origin Series High Wheat); neat, rocks, highball (Basil Hayden’s).