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Basil Hayden’s vs Penelope Toasted Series
Put Basil Hayden’s next to Penelope Toasted Series and you have a classic, high-rye stalwart set against a blender-built, high-rye bottling.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Basil Hayden’s | Penelope Toasted Series |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 63% corn, 27% rye, 10% malted barley | 75% corn, 21% rye, 4% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | No age statement |
| Proof | 80 proof (40% ABV) | 100 proof (50% ABV) +20 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.
Penelope Toasted Series
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Basil Hayden’s Penelope Toasted Series
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
oak 3/7 oak: Basil Hayden’s 3 out of 10, Penelope Toasted Series 7 out of 10
heat 2/5 heat: Basil Hayden’s 2 out of 10, Penelope Toasted Series 5 out of 10
sweetness 5/7 sweetness: Basil Hayden’s 5 out of 10, Penelope Toasted Series 7 out of 10
spice 6/5 spice: Basil Hayden’s 6 out of 10, Penelope Toasted Series 5 out of 10
fruit 5/4 fruit: Basil Hayden’s 5 out of 10, Penelope Toasted Series 4 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: Basil Hayden’s 3 out of 10, Penelope Toasted Series 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.
- Penelope Toasted Series: Finished in a second, freshly toasted barrel, which pushes it toward toffee, roasted coffee and darker oak. The toast level changes from batch to batch.
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 Penelope Toasted Series if you want a toasty, coffee-and-toffee bourbon from a second-barrel finish 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 (Penelope Toasted Series).