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Basil Hayden’s vs Joseph Magnus Straight Bourbon
Basil Hayden’s and Joseph Magnus Straight 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 | Joseph Magnus Straight 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) | 100 proof (50% ABV) +20 proof |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$38 – $45 ~$51 less | ~$85 – $100 |
- Basil Hayden’s and Joseph Magnus Straight Bourbon do not publish an official mash bill.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.
Joseph Magnus Straight Bourbon
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Basil Hayden’s Joseph Magnus Straight Bourbon
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
sweetness 5/8 sweetness: Basil Hayden’s 5 out of 10, Joseph Magnus Straight Bourbon 8 out of 10
oak 3/6 oak: Basil Hayden’s 3 out of 10, Joseph Magnus Straight Bourbon 6 out of 10
fruit 5/8 fruit: Basil Hayden’s 5 out of 10, Joseph Magnus Straight Bourbon 8 out of 10
heat 2/5 heat: Basil Hayden’s 2 out of 10, Joseph Magnus Straight Bourbon 5 out of 10
nuttiness 3/5 nuttiness: Basil Hayden’s 3 out of 10, Joseph Magnus Straight Bourbon 5 out of 10
spice 6/5 spice: Basil Hayden’s 6 out of 10, Joseph Magnus Straight Bourbon 5 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
The clearest split is how sweet each one drinks.
- 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.
- Joseph Magnus Straight Bourbon: Finished in Oloroso sherry, Pedro Ximenez sherry and Cognac casks. The casks layer dried fruit, orange and dark chocolate over the bourbon and leave a long, clove-spiced finish.
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 Joseph Magnus Straight Bourbon if you want a sherry-and-Cognac-finished bourbon full of dried fruit and dark chocolate with more proof behind it.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks, highball (Basil Hayden’s); neat (Joseph Magnus Straight Bourbon).