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Basil Hayden’s vs Wild Turkey 101
Comparing Basil Hayden’s and Wild Turkey 101 reveals a matchup between a traditional, spice-driven Kentucky staple and a traditional, spice-driven Kentucky staple.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Basil Hayden’s | Wild Turkey 101 |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 63% corn, 27% rye, 10% malted barley | 75% corn, 13% rye, 12% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | No age statement |
| Proof | 80 proof (40% ABV) | 101 proof (50.5% ABV) +21 proof |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$38 – $45 | ~$25 – $30 ~$14 less |
- 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.
Wild Turkey 101
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Basil Hayden’s Wild Turkey 101
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
oak 3/7 oak: Basil Hayden’s 3 out of 10, Wild Turkey 101 7 out of 10
heat 2/6 heat: Basil Hayden’s 2 out of 10, Wild Turkey 101 6 out of 10
spice 6/8 spice: Basil Hayden’s 6 out of 10, Wild Turkey 101 8 out of 10
sweetness 5/6 sweetness: Basil Hayden’s 5 out of 10, Wild Turkey 101 6 out of 10
fruit 5/4 fruit: Basil Hayden’s 5 out of 10, Wild Turkey 101 4 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: Basil Hayden’s 3 out of 10, Wild Turkey 101 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Oak is doing most of the differentiating here.
- 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.
- Wild Turkey 101: The workhorse high-rye Kentucky bourbon and one of the best proof-to-price ratios anywhere. Vanilla and orange up front, then a genuinely spicy, peppery, tobacco-tinged middle that punches well above $25.
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 Wild Turkey 101 if you want bold rye spice and real proof at the lowest price of anything comparable.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks, highball (Basil Hayden’s); neat, rocks, old-fashioned, cocktails (Wild Turkey 101).