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Basil Hayden’s vs Wild Turkey Longbranch
Basil Hayden’s and Wild Turkey Longbranch sit on opposite sides of a familiar divide: an old-guard, rye-forward classic versus an old-guard, classically built classic.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Basil Hayden’s | Wild Turkey Longbranch |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | Traditional Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 63% corn, 27% rye, 10% malted barley | 75% corn, 13% rye, 12% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | 8 years |
| Proof | 80 proof (40% ABV) | 86 proof (43% ABV) +6 proof |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$38 – $45 | ~$35 – $45 |
- Basil Hayden’s and Wild Turkey Longbranch do not publish an official mash bill.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.
Wild Turkey Longbranch
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Basil Hayden’s Wild Turkey Longbranch
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
sweetness 5/7 sweetness: Basil Hayden’s 5 out of 10, Wild Turkey Longbranch 7 out of 10
spice 6/4 spice: Basil Hayden’s 6 out of 10, Wild Turkey Longbranch 4 out of 10
oak 3/5 oak: Basil Hayden’s 3 out of 10, Wild Turkey Longbranch 5 out of 10
heat 2/3 heat: Basil Hayden’s 2 out of 10, Wild Turkey Longbranch 3 out of 10
nuttiness 3/2 nuttiness: Basil Hayden’s 3 out of 10, Wild Turkey Longbranch 2 out of 10
fruit 5/5 fruit: Basil Hayden’s 5 out of 10, Wild Turkey Longbranch 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.
- Wild Turkey Longbranch: Eight-year Wild Turkey filtered through American oak charcoal and then Texas mesquite charcoal. It is softer and sweeter than the usual Turkey, with honey and orange and a faint smoke.
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 Wild Turkey Longbranch if you want a softer, sweeter Wild Turkey with a light mesquite smoke with slightly more proof behind it.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks, highball (Basil Hayden’s); rocks, highball, old-fashioned (Wild Turkey Longbranch).