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Basil Hayden’s vs Stellum Bourbon
Basil Hayden’s and Stellum Bourbon sit on opposite sides of a familiar divide: an old-guard, rye-forward classic versus an undiluted barrel-strength pour.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Basil Hayden’s | Stellum Bourbon |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | Traditional Bourbon, Barrel Proof |
| Mash Bill 1 | 63% corn, 27% rye, 10% malted barley | Not disclosed |
| Age | No age statement | No age statement |
| Proof | 80 proof (40% ABV) | 115 proof (57.5% ABV) +35 proof |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$38 – $45 ~$9 less | ~$45 – $55 |
- Basil Hayden’s and Stellum Bourbon do not publish an official mash bill.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.
Stellum Bourbon
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Basil Hayden’s Stellum Bourbon
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
heat 2/7 heat: Basil Hayden’s 2 out of 10, Stellum Bourbon 7 out of 10
oak 3/6 oak: Basil Hayden’s 3 out of 10, Stellum Bourbon 6 out of 10
sweetness 5/6 sweetness: Basil Hayden’s 5 out of 10, Stellum Bourbon 6 out of 10
spice 6/7 spice: Basil Hayden’s 6 out of 10, Stellum Bourbon 7 out of 10
fruit 5/4 fruit: Basil Hayden’s 5 out of 10, Stellum Bourbon 4 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: Basil Hayden’s 3 out of 10, Stellum Bourbon 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
These two land very differently on the palate for heat.
- 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.
- Stellum Bourbon: Barrell's lower-priced, cask-strength line. It drinks gentler than its proof, with vanilla and caramel on top of cinnamon, clove and a long, spicy finish.
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 slightly lower price point.
- Go with Stellum Bourbon if you want a cask-strength, multi-state blend that drinks easier than its proof with the texture that comes from skipping chill filtration.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks, highball (Basil Hayden’s); neat, old-fashioned (Stellum Bourbon).