Compare
Basil Hayden’s vs Woodford Reserve
Comparing Basil Hayden’s and Woodford Reserve is a closer contest than it looks — both are high-rye bourbons, separated mainly by proof (80 vs. 90.4).
Key Specifications
| Feature | Basil Hayden’s | Woodford Reserve |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 63% corn, 27% rye, 10% malted barley | 72% corn, 18% rye, 10% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | No age statement |
| Proof | 80 proof (40% ABV) | 90.4 proof (45.2% ABV) +10 proof |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$38 – $45 | ~$35 – $42 |
- 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.
Woodford Reserve
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Basil Hayden’s Woodford Reserve
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
oak 3/6 oak: Basil Hayden’s 3 out of 10, Woodford Reserve 6 out of 10
heat 2/4 heat: Basil Hayden’s 2 out of 10, Woodford Reserve 4 out of 10
sweetness 5/6 sweetness: Basil Hayden’s 5 out of 10, Woodford Reserve 6 out of 10
fruit 5/6 fruit: Basil Hayden’s 5 out of 10, Woodford Reserve 6 out of 10
spice 6/6 spice: Basil Hayden’s 6 out of 10, Woodford Reserve 6 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: Basil Hayden’s 3 out of 10, Woodford Reserve 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.
- Woodford Reserve: The most widely poured premium bourbon in America, and a genuinely well-made one. Dried fruit and cocoa over a balanced 18% rye mash, finished smooth enough to please almost anyone.
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 Woodford Reserve if you want a polished, widely available crowd-pleaser that never puts a foot wrong with more proof behind it.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks, highball (Basil Hayden’s); neat, rocks, old-fashioned, cocktails (Woodford Reserve).