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Basil Hayden’s vs Penelope Rio
Basil Hayden’s and Penelope Rio sit on opposite sides of a familiar divide: an old-guard, rye-forward classic versus a blender-built, classically built bottling.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Basil Hayden’s | Penelope Rio |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | Four-Grain Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 63% corn, 27% rye, 10% malted barley | 74% corn, 7% rye, 16% wheat, 3% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | No age statement |
| Proof | 80 proof (40% ABV) | 98 proof (49% ABV) +18 proof |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$38 – $45 ~$49 less | ~$80 – $100 |
| Availability | Widely available easier to find | Limited |
- 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.
Penelope Rio
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Basil Hayden’s Penelope Rio
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
sweetness 5/9 sweetness: Basil Hayden’s 5 out of 10, Penelope Rio 9 out of 10
heat 2/5 heat: Basil Hayden’s 2 out of 10, Penelope Rio 5 out of 10
oak 3/4 oak: Basil Hayden’s 3 out of 10, Penelope Rio 4 out of 10
fruit 5/6 fruit: Basil Hayden’s 5 out of 10, Penelope Rio 6 out of 10
spice 6/6 spice: Basil Hayden’s 6 out of 10, Penelope Rio 6 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: Basil Hayden’s 3 out of 10, Penelope Rio 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Sweetness is where these two part ways.
- 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.
- Penelope Rio: Penelope's four-grain blend finished in honey barrels and then amburana wood. It tastes like a cinnamon roll: honey, gingerbread and sweet baking spice.
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 significantly lower price point.
- Go with Penelope Rio if you want a honey-and-amburana-finished bourbon that tastes like a cinnamon roll with more proof behind it.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks, highball (Basil Hayden’s); neat, old-fashioned (Penelope Rio).