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Basil Hayden’s vs Blanton’s Single Barrel
On paper Basil Hayden’s and Blanton’s Single Barrel are near neighbours — both high-rye bourbons — so price (~$38 – $45 vs. ~$80 – $150) is what actually decides it.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Basil Hayden’s | Blanton’s Single Barrel |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 63% corn, 27% rye, 10% malted barley | 75% corn, 15% rye, 10% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | No age statement |
| Proof | 80 proof (40% ABV) | 93 proof (46.5% ABV) +13 proof |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$38 – $45 ~$74 less | ~$80 – $150 |
| Availability | Widely available easier to find | Allocated |
- Basil Hayden’s and Blanton’s Single Barrel do not publish an official mash bill.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.
Blanton’s Single Barrel
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Basil Hayden’s Blanton’s Single Barrel
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
oak 3/6 oak: Basil Hayden’s 3 out of 10, Blanton’s Single Barrel 6 out of 10
heat 2/4 heat: Basil Hayden’s 2 out of 10, Blanton’s Single Barrel 4 out of 10
sweetness 5/6 sweetness: Basil Hayden’s 5 out of 10, Blanton’s Single Barrel 6 out of 10
fruit 5/6 fruit: Basil Hayden’s 5 out of 10, Blanton’s Single Barrel 6 out of 10
spice 6/6 spice: Basil Hayden’s 6 out of 10, Blanton’s Single Barrel 6 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: Basil Hayden’s 3 out of 10, Blanton’s Single Barrel 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Barrel influence is the main separator.
- 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.
- Blanton’s Single Barrel: The bottle that invented the single-barrel category and still trades largely on its horse-stopper cork and its scarcity. The whiskey itself is genuinely good — honeyed and citrus-led with nutmeg spice — but at secondary prices you are paying for the bottle as much as the pour.
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 at a significantly lower price point.
- Go with Blanton’s Single Barrel if you want the original single-barrel presentation and a honeyed, citrus-led profile, and the hunt is part of the appeal with more proof behind it.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks, highball (Basil Hayden’s); neat, rocks (Blanton’s Single Barrel).