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Basil Hayden’s vs Four Roses Single Barrel
Comparing Basil Hayden’s and Four Roses Single Barrel reveals a matchup between a traditional, spice-driven Kentucky staple and a traditional, spice-driven Kentucky staple.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Basil Hayden’s | Four Roses Single Barrel |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 63% corn, 27% rye, 10% malted barley | 60% corn, 35% rye, 5% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | No age statement |
| Proof | 80 proof (40% ABV) | 100 proof (50% ABV) +20 proof |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$38 – $45 ~$9 less | ~$45 – $55 |
- 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.
Four Roses Single Barrel
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Basil Hayden’s Four Roses Single Barrel
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
heat 2/6 heat: Basil Hayden’s 2 out of 10, Four Roses Single Barrel 6 out of 10
oak 3/6 oak: Basil Hayden’s 3 out of 10, Four Roses Single Barrel 6 out of 10
spice 6/8 spice: Basil Hayden’s 6 out of 10, Four Roses Single Barrel 8 out of 10
fruit 5/7 fruit: Basil Hayden’s 5 out of 10, Four Roses Single Barrel 7 out of 10
sweetness 5/6 sweetness: Basil Hayden’s 5 out of 10, Four Roses Single Barrel 6 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: Basil Hayden’s 3 out of 10, Four Roses Single Barrel 3 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.
- Four Roses Single Barrel: The OBSV recipe on its own at 100 proof — the highest-rye mash Four Roses uses, paired with their most floral yeast. Cherry and clove in equal measure, and a genuinely distinctive glass.
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 slightly lower price point.
- Go with Four Roses Single Barrel if you want the most expressive, spice-and-fruit-forward single recipe in the Four Roses range with more proof behind it.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks, highball (Basil Hayden’s); neat, old-fashioned (Four Roses Single Barrel).