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Basil Hayden’s vs Colonel E.H. Taylor Barrel Proof
Basil Hayden’s and Colonel E.H. Taylor Barrel Proof sit on opposite sides of a familiar divide: an old-guard, rye-forward classic versus an undiluted barrel-strength pour.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Basil Hayden’s | Colonel E.H. Taylor Barrel Proof |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | Traditional Bourbon, Barrel Proof |
| Mash Bill 1 | 63% corn, 27% rye, 10% malted barley | 78% corn, 10% rye, 12% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | No age statement |
| Proof | 80 proof (40% ABV) | 130.3 proof (65.2% ABV) +50 proof |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$38 – $45 ~$96 less | ~$75 – $200 |
| Availability | Widely available easier to find | Allocated |
- Basil Hayden’s and Colonel E.H. Taylor Barrel Proof do not publish an official mash bill.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.
Colonel E.H. Taylor Barrel Proof
A top 5 bottle.
Flavor Profile
Basil Hayden’s Colonel E.H. Taylor Barrel Proof
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
heat 2/9 heat: Basil Hayden’s 2 out of 10, Colonel E.H. Taylor Barrel Proof 9 out of 10
oak 3/8 oak: Basil Hayden’s 3 out of 10, Colonel E.H. Taylor Barrel Proof 8 out of 10
nuttiness 3/6 nuttiness: Basil Hayden’s 3 out of 10, Colonel E.H. Taylor Barrel Proof 6 out of 10
sweetness 5/6 sweetness: Basil Hayden’s 5 out of 10, Colonel E.H. Taylor Barrel Proof 6 out of 10
spice 6/5 spice: Basil Hayden’s 6 out of 10, Colonel E.H. Taylor Barrel Proof 5 out of 10
fruit 5/4 fruit: Basil Hayden’s 5 out of 10, Colonel E.H. Taylor Barrel Proof 4 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Proof and heat dominate the difference.
- 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.
- Colonel E.H. Taylor Barrel Proof: E.H. Taylor straight from the barrel. Very hot and nutty, with toasted pecan, dark sugar and heavy oak; the proof changes with each batch.
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 Colonel E.H. Taylor Barrel Proof if you want a hot, nutty, barrel-proof Buffalo Trace bourbon with the texture that comes from skipping chill filtration.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks, highball (Basil Hayden’s); neat (Colonel E.H. Taylor Barrel Proof).