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Basil Hayden’s vs Four Roses Small Batch
Comparing Basil Hayden’s and Four Roses Small Batch is a closer contest than it looks — both are high-rye bourbons, separated mainly by proof (80 vs. 90).
Key Specifications
| Feature | Basil Hayden’s | Four Roses Small Batch |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 63% corn, 27% rye, 10% malted barley | 75% corn, 20% rye, 5% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | No age statement |
| Proof | 80 proof (40% ABV) | 90 proof (45% ABV) +10 proof |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$38 – $45 | ~$32 – $38 ~$7 less |
- 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 Small Batch
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Basil Hayden’s Four Roses Small Batch
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
oak 3/5 oak: Basil Hayden’s 3 out of 10, Four Roses Small Batch 5 out of 10
fruit 5/7 fruit: Basil Hayden’s 5 out of 10, Four Roses Small Batch 7 out of 10
heat 2/4 heat: Basil Hayden’s 2 out of 10, Four Roses Small Batch 4 out of 10
sweetness 5/6 sweetness: Basil Hayden’s 5 out of 10, Four Roses Small Batch 6 out of 10
spice 6/6 spice: Basil Hayden’s 6 out of 10, Four Roses Small Batch 6 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: Basil Hayden’s 3 out of 10, Four Roses Small Batch 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Oak is doing most of the differentiating here.
- 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 Small Batch: Four Roses' yeast strains push this toward fruit and florals rather than wood. Red berry and cinnamon over a light body, with the rye showing up as brightness instead of bite.
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.
- Go with Four Roses Small Batch if you want a fruit-and-floral profile that stands apart from the usual caramel-and-oak template at a slightly lower price point.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks, highball (Basil Hayden’s); neat, rocks, cocktails (Four Roses Small Batch).