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Basil Hayden’s vs New Riff 8 Year
Put Basil Hayden’s next to New Riff 8 Year and you have a classic, high-rye stalwart set against a contemporary, high-rye craft build.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Basil Hayden’s | New Riff 8 Year |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 63% corn, 27% rye, 10% malted barley | 65% corn, 30% rye, 5% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | 8 years |
| Proof | 80 proof (40% ABV) | 100 proof (50% ABV) +20 proof |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$38 – $45 ~$26 less | ~$65 – $70 |
- 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.
New Riff 8 Year
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Basil Hayden’s New Riff 8 Year
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
oak 3/7 oak: Basil Hayden’s 3 out of 10, New Riff 8 Year 7 out of 10
heat 2/5 heat: Basil Hayden’s 2 out of 10, New Riff 8 Year 5 out of 10
spice 6/8 spice: Basil Hayden’s 6 out of 10, New Riff 8 Year 8 out of 10
sweetness 5/6 sweetness: Basil Hayden’s 5 out of 10, New Riff 8 Year 6 out of 10
fruit 5/5 fruit: Basil Hayden’s 5 out of 10, New Riff 8 Year 5 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: Basil Hayden’s 3 out of 10, New Riff 8 Year 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Barrel influence is the main separator.
- 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.
- New Riff 8 Year: The older, deeper version of New Riff's bonded bourbon. Same 30% rye recipe, but eight years add richer oak and darker sugar while keeping the spice front and center.
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 lower price point.
- Go with New Riff 8 Year if you want an older, deeper take on New Riff's spicy high-rye recipe with more proof behind it and with the texture that comes from skipping chill filtration.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks, highball (Basil Hayden’s); neat, old-fashioned (New Riff 8 Year).