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Basil Hayden’s vs 1792 Small Batch
Basil Hayden’s and 1792 Small Batch are cut from similar cloth: two takes on high-rye bourbons, where the real difference is proof (80 vs. 93.7).
Key Specifications
| Feature | Basil Hayden’s | 1792 Small Batch |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 63% corn, 27% rye, 10% malted barley | Not disclosed |
| Age | No age statement | No age statement |
| Proof | 80 proof (40% ABV) | 93.7 proof (46.9% ABV) +14 proof |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$38 – $45 | ~$26 – $34 ~$12 less |
- Basil Hayden’s and 1792 Small Batch do not publish an official mash bill.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
Basil Hayden’s
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
1792 Small Batch
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Basil Hayden’s 1792 Small Batch
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
oak 3/6 oak: Basil Hayden’s 3 out of 10, 1792 Small Batch 6 out of 10
heat 2/5 heat: Basil Hayden’s 2 out of 10, 1792 Small Batch 5 out of 10
sweetness 5/6 sweetness: Basil Hayden’s 5 out of 10, 1792 Small Batch 6 out of 10
spice 6/7 spice: Basil Hayden’s 6 out of 10, 1792 Small Batch 7 out of 10
nuttiness 3/4 nuttiness: Basil Hayden’s 3 out of 10, 1792 Small Batch 4 out of 10
fruit 5/5 fruit: Basil Hayden’s 5 out of 10, 1792 Small Batch 5 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Oak is doing most of the differentiating here.
- 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.
- 1792 Small Batch: Barton's flagship and one of the most under-discussed bottles at its price. A high-rye character with cocoa and orange peel, and considerably more going on than the shelf position suggests.
Which One Should You Choose?
- 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.
- Go with 1792 Small Batch if you want an overlooked, spice-forward Kentucky bourbon that punches above its price with more proof behind it.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks, highball (Basil Hayden’s); neat, rocks, old-fashioned (1792 Small Batch).