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Basil Hayden’s vs Jack Daniel’s 12 Year
Put Basil Hayden’s next to Jack Daniel’s 12 Year and you have a classic, high-rye stalwart set against a classic, corn-forward stalwart.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Basil Hayden’s | Jack Daniel’s 12 Year |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | Traditional Tennessee Whiskey |
| Mash Bill 1 | 63% corn, 27% rye, 10% malted barley | 80% corn, 8% rye, 12% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | 12 years |
| Proof | 80 proof (40% ABV) | 107 proof (53.5% ABV) +27 proof |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$38 – $45 ~$59 less | ~$80 – $120 |
| Availability | Widely available easier to find | Limited |
- 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.
Jack Daniel’s 12 Year
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Basil Hayden’s Jack Daniel’s 12 Year
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
oak 3/8 oak: Basil Hayden’s 3 out of 10, Jack Daniel’s 12 Year 8 out of 10
heat 2/6 heat: Basil Hayden’s 2 out of 10, Jack Daniel’s 12 Year 6 out of 10
sweetness 5/8 sweetness: Basil Hayden’s 5 out of 10, Jack Daniel’s 12 Year 8 out of 10
spice 6/5 spice: Basil Hayden’s 6 out of 10, Jack Daniel’s 12 Year 5 out of 10
fruit 5/6 fruit: Basil Hayden’s 5 out of 10, Jack Daniel’s 12 Year 6 out of 10
nuttiness 3/4 nuttiness: Basil Hayden’s 3 out of 10, Jack Daniel’s 12 Year 4 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.
- Jack Daniel’s 12 Year: Twelve-year Jack Daniel's at 107 proof. Sweet and creamy, with butterscotch, pipe tobacco and seasoned oak.
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 Jack Daniel’s 12 Year if you want a sweet, creamy, well-aged Jack Daniel's with pipe tobacco and oak with significantly more proof behind it.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks, highball (Basil Hayden’s); neat, rocks (Jack Daniel’s 12 Year).