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Basil Hayden’s vs Maker’s Mark Cask Strength
Put Basil Hayden’s next to Maker’s Mark Cask Strength and you have a classic, high-rye stalwart set against an uncut, high-wheat heavyweight.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Basil Hayden’s | Maker’s Mark Cask Strength |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | Wheated Bourbon, Barrel Proof |
| 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) | 110 proof (55% ABV) +30 proof |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$38 – $45 | ~$40 – $50 |
- 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 Cask Strength
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Basil Hayden’s Maker’s Mark Cask Strength
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
heat 2/7 heat: Basil Hayden’s 2 out of 10, Maker’s Mark Cask Strength 7 out of 10
sweetness 5/9 sweetness: Basil Hayden’s 5 out of 10, Maker’s Mark Cask Strength 9 out of 10
spice 6/3 spice: Basil Hayden’s 6 out of 10, Maker’s Mark Cask Strength 3 out of 10
oak 3/5 oak: Basil Hayden’s 3 out of 10, Maker’s Mark Cask Strength 5 out of 10
fruit 5/5 fruit: Basil Hayden’s 5 out of 10, Maker’s Mark Cask Strength 5 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: Basil Hayden’s 3 out of 10, Maker’s Mark Cask Strength 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
These two land very differently on the palate for heat.
- 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 Cask Strength: Undiluted Maker's, and the version that finally gives the wheated recipe some weight. Dense caramel and honey with real warmth, and one of the more affordable cask-strength bottles anywhere.
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 Cask Strength if you want wheated sweetness at full strength for well under what most cask-strength bourbons cost.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks, highball (Basil Hayden’s); neat, rocks (Maker’s Mark Cask Strength).