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Basil Hayden’s vs Maker's Mark
Comparing Basil Hayden’s and Maker's Mark 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 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) | 90 proof (45% ABV) +10 proof |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$38 – $45 | ~$25 – $32 ~$13 less |
- 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
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Basil Hayden’s Maker's Mark
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
spice 6/2 spice: Basil Hayden’s 6 out of 10, Maker's Mark 2 out of 10
sweetness 5/8 sweetness: Basil Hayden’s 5 out of 10, Maker's Mark 8 out of 10
oak 3/4 oak: Basil Hayden’s 3 out of 10, Maker's Mark 4 out of 10
fruit 5/4 fruit: Basil Hayden’s 5 out of 10, Maker's Mark 4 out of 10
heat 2/3 heat: Basil Hayden’s 2 out of 10, Maker's Mark 3 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: Basil Hayden’s 3 out of 10, Maker's Mark 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
The gap between these two is mostly about spice.
- 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: The bottle that made wheated bourbon mainstream. Soft, sweet, and deliberately low on spice and oak, with baked bread and honey doing most of the work. Consistency is its real feature.
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 if you want a reliably sweet, low-spice wheater that is easy to find and easy to drink at a lower price point.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks, highball (Basil Hayden’s); neat, rocks, cocktails, highball (Maker's Mark).