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Basil Hayden’s vs Copper & Kings Butchertown Bourbon
Basil Hayden’s and Copper & Kings Butchertown Bourbon sit on opposite sides of a familiar divide: an old-guard, rye-forward classic versus a sourced, classically built blend.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Basil Hayden’s | Copper & Kings Butchertown Bourbon |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | Traditional 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) | 111 proof (55.5% ABV) +31 proof |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$38 – $45 ~$14 less | ~$40 – $70 |
| Availability | Widely available easier to find | Limited |
- Basil Hayden’s and Copper & Kings Butchertown Bourbon do not publish an official mash bill.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.
Copper & Kings Butchertown Bourbon
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Basil Hayden’s Copper & Kings Butchertown Bourbon
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
heat 2/6 heat: Basil Hayden’s 2 out of 10, Copper & Kings Butchertown Bourbon 6 out of 10
oak 3/6 oak: Basil Hayden’s 3 out of 10, Copper & Kings Butchertown Bourbon 6 out of 10
fruit 5/8 fruit: Basil Hayden’s 5 out of 10, Copper & Kings Butchertown Bourbon 8 out of 10
sweetness 5/7 sweetness: Basil Hayden’s 5 out of 10, Copper & Kings Butchertown Bourbon 7 out of 10
spice 6/6 spice: Basil Hayden’s 6 out of 10, Copper & Kings Butchertown Bourbon 6 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: Basil Hayden’s 3 out of 10, Copper & Kings Butchertown 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.
- Copper & Kings Butchertown Bourbon: Kentucky bourbon finished in the Louisville brandy maker's apple brandy barrels. The finish reads like caramel apple pie: baked apple and cinnamon over a sturdy oak base.
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 lower price point.
- Go with Copper & Kings Butchertown Bourbon if you want an apple-brandy-finished bourbon that tastes like caramel apple pie with significantly more proof behind it.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks, highball (Basil Hayden’s); neat, old-fashioned (Copper & Kings Butchertown Bourbon).