Compare
Basil Hayden’s vs Old Grand-Dad Bonded
Basil Hayden’s and Old Grand-Dad Bonded sit on opposite sides of a familiar divide: an old-guard, rye-forward classic versus an old-guard, rye-forward classic.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Basil Hayden’s | Old Grand-Dad Bonded |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 63% corn, 27% rye, 10% malted barley | 63% corn, 27% rye, 10% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | 4 years |
| Proof | 80 proof (40% ABV) | 100 proof (50% ABV) +20 proof |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$38 – $45 | ~$24 – $30 ~$15 less |
- Basil Hayden’s and Old Grand-Dad Bonded do not publish an official mash bill.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 Grand-Dad Bonded
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Basil Hayden’s Old Grand-Dad Bonded
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
heat 2/6 heat: Basil Hayden’s 2 out of 10, Old Grand-Dad Bonded 6 out of 10
spice 6/8 spice: Basil Hayden’s 6 out of 10, Old Grand-Dad Bonded 8 out of 10
oak 3/5 oak: Basil Hayden’s 3 out of 10, Old Grand-Dad Bonded 5 out of 10
nuttiness 3/5 nuttiness: Basil Hayden’s 3 out of 10, Old Grand-Dad Bonded 5 out of 10
fruit 5/4 fruit: Basil Hayden’s 5 out of 10, Old Grand-Dad Bonded 4 out of 10
sweetness 5/5 sweetness: Basil Hayden’s 5 out of 10, Old Grand-Dad Bonded 5 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 Grand-Dad Bonded: A bonded 100-proof high-rye bourbon for the price of a mixer, and one of the great bargains on the shelf. Cleaner and less overwhelming than the 114 while keeping the peppery rye backbone.
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 Old Grand-Dad Bonded if you want a bonded, high-rye workhorse at mixer money with more proof behind it.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks, highball (Basil Hayden’s); neat, old-fashioned, cocktails (Old Grand-Dad Bonded).