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Basil Hayden’s vs Yellowstone Select
Basil Hayden’s and Yellowstone Select sit on opposite sides of a familiar divide: an old-guard, rye-forward classic versus a sourced, classically built blend.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Basil Hayden’s | Yellowstone Select |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | Traditional Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 63% corn, 27% rye, 10% malted barley | Not disclosed |
| Age | No age statement | No age statement |
| Proof | 80 proof (40% ABV) | 93 proof (46.5% ABV) +13 proof |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$38 – $45 | ~$40 – $50 |
- Basil Hayden’s and Yellowstone Select do not publish an official mash bill.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.
Yellowstone Select
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Basil Hayden’s Yellowstone Select
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
spice 6/4 spice: Basil Hayden’s 6 out of 10, Yellowstone Select 4 out of 10
oak 3/5 oak: Basil Hayden’s 3 out of 10, Yellowstone Select 5 out of 10
sweetness 5/6 sweetness: Basil Hayden’s 5 out of 10, Yellowstone Select 6 out of 10
heat 2/3 heat: Basil Hayden’s 2 out of 10, Yellowstone Select 3 out of 10
nuttiness 3/2 nuttiness: Basil Hayden’s 3 out of 10, Yellowstone Select 2 out of 10
fruit 5/5 fruit: Basil Hayden’s 5 out of 10, Yellowstone Select 5 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Rye spice is the dividing line 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.
- Yellowstone Select: A revived historic brand from Limestone Branch. Light and creamy, with toasted oak, vanilla and peach and a short, peppery finish. Part of the proceeds support Yellowstone National Park.
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 Yellowstone Select if you want a light, creamy everyday sipper with a historic name with more proof behind it.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks, highball (Basil Hayden’s); rocks, highball, old-fashioned (Yellowstone Select).