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Basil Hayden’s vs Charles Goodnight Bourbon
Put Basil Hayden’s next to Charles Goodnight Bourbon and you have a classic, high-rye stalwart set against an uncut, high-rye heavyweight.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Basil Hayden’s | Charles Goodnight Bourbon |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | High-Rye Bourbon, Barrel Proof |
| Mash Bill 1 | 63% corn, 27% rye, 10% malted barley | 60% corn, 36% rye, 4% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | 6 years |
| Proof | 80 proof (40% ABV) | 115 proof (57.5% ABV) +35 proof |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$38 – $45 ~$36 less | ~$75 – $80 |
- 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
Basil Hayden’s
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Charles Goodnight Bourbon
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Basil Hayden’s Charles Goodnight Bourbon
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
heat 2/8 heat: Basil Hayden’s 2 out of 10, Charles Goodnight Bourbon 8 out of 10
oak 3/8 oak: Basil Hayden’s 3 out of 10, Charles Goodnight Bourbon 8 out of 10
sweetness 5/7 sweetness: Basil Hayden’s 5 out of 10, Charles Goodnight Bourbon 7 out of 10
spice 6/7 spice: Basil Hayden’s 6 out of 10, Charles Goodnight Bourbon 7 out of 10
fruit 5/6 fruit: Basil Hayden’s 5 out of 10, Charles Goodnight Bourbon 6 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: Basil Hayden’s 3 out of 10, Charles Goodnight Bourbon 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
These two land very differently on the palate for heat.
- 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.
- Charles Goodnight Bourbon: A barrel-strength Texas bourbon. The hot Texas climate pulls a lot of oak in six years, giving deep wood, brown sugar and dark fruit with plenty of rye spice.
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 Charles Goodnight Bourbon if you want a bold, oak-heavy Texas bourbon at barrel strength with the texture that comes from skipping chill filtration.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks, highball (Basil Hayden’s); neat, rocks (Charles Goodnight Bourbon).