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Basil Hayden’s vs Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style
Comparing Basil Hayden’s and Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style reveals a matchup between a traditional, spice-driven Kentucky staple and a traditional, spice-driven Kentucky staple.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Basil Hayden’s | Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 63% corn, 27% rye, 10% malted barley | 72% corn, 18% rye, 10% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | No age statement |
| Proof | 80 proof (40% ABV) | 115 proof (57.5% ABV) +35 proof |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$38 – $45 ~$21 less | ~$55 – $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.
Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Basil Hayden’s Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
heat 2/7 heat: Basil Hayden’s 2 out of 10, Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style 7 out of 10
oak 3/7 oak: Basil Hayden’s 3 out of 10, Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style 7 out of 10
sweetness 5/8 sweetness: Basil Hayden’s 5 out of 10, Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style 8 out of 10
spice 6/7 spice: Basil Hayden’s 6 out of 10, Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style 7 out of 10
fruit 5/5 fruit: Basil Hayden’s 5 out of 10, Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style 5 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: Basil Hayden’s 3 out of 10, Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Proof and heat dominate the difference.
- 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.
- Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style: Dense and syrupy for its age, with molasses and dark chocolate carrying a serious 115-proof punch. The high rye reads as baking spice rather than sharpness, and the body is unusually thick.
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 Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style if you want a rich, high-proof, dessert-leaning bourbon with real weight in the glass.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks, highball (Basil Hayden’s); neat, old-fashioned (Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style).