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Basil Hayden’s vs Maker’s Mark 46
Comparing Basil Hayden’s and Maker’s Mark 46 reveals a matchup between a traditional, spice-driven Kentucky staple and a traditional, wheated Kentucky staple.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Basil Hayden’s | Maker’s Mark 46 |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | Wheated Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 63% corn, 27% rye, 10% malted barley | 70% corn, 16% wheat, 14% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | No age statement |
| Proof | 80 proof (40% ABV) | 94 proof (47% ABV) +14 proof |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$38 – $45 | ~$38 – $45 |
- 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.
Maker’s Mark 46
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Basil Hayden’s Maker’s Mark 46
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
oak 3/7 oak: Basil Hayden’s 3 out of 10, Maker’s Mark 46 7 out of 10
sweetness 5/8 sweetness: Basil Hayden’s 5 out of 10, Maker’s Mark 46 8 out of 10
spice 6/4 spice: Basil Hayden’s 6 out of 10, Maker’s Mark 46 4 out of 10
heat 2/4 heat: Basil Hayden’s 2 out of 10, Maker’s Mark 46 4 out of 10
fruit 5/4 fruit: Basil Hayden’s 5 out of 10, Maker’s Mark 46 4 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: Basil Hayden’s 3 out of 10, Maker’s Mark 46 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.
- Maker’s Mark 46: Finished with seared French oak staves inside the barrel, which adds the spice and wood that the standard bottling deliberately lacks. The most useful upgrade in the Maker's range.
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 Maker’s Mark 46 if you want the softness of Maker's Mark with real oak and spice layered over it with more proof behind it.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks, highball (Basil Hayden’s); neat, rocks, old-fashioned (Maker’s Mark 46).