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Bulleit Bourbon vs Basil Hayden’s
Comparing Bulleit Bourbon and Basil Hayden’s is a closer contest than it looks — both are high-rye bourbons, separated mainly by proof (90 vs. 80).
Key Specifications
| Feature | Bulleit Bourbon | Basil Hayden’s |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 68% corn, 28% rye, 4% malted barley | 63% corn, 27% rye, 10% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | No age statement |
| Proof | 90 proof (45% ABV) +10 proof | 80 proof (40% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$25 – $32 ~$13 less | ~$38 – $45 |
- 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
Bulleit Bourbon
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Basil Hayden’s
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Bulleit Bourbon Basil Hayden’s
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
oak 5/3 oak: Bulleit Bourbon 5 out of 10, Basil Hayden’s 3 out of 10
heat 4/2 heat: Bulleit Bourbon 4 out of 10, Basil Hayden’s 2 out of 10
spice 7/6 spice: Bulleit Bourbon 7 out of 10, Basil Hayden’s 6 out of 10
sweetness 5/5 sweetness: Bulleit Bourbon 5 out of 10, Basil Hayden’s 5 out of 10
fruit 5/5 fruit: Bulleit Bourbon 5 out of 10, Basil Hayden’s 5 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: Bulleit Bourbon 3 out of 10, Basil Hayden’s 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Barrel influence is the main separator.
- Bulleit Bourbon: The bottle that put high-rye bourbon in every cocktail bar in the country. Peppery and dry with the familiar MGP dill note, and it earns its place behind the bar more than in a glass on its own.
- 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.
Which One Should You Choose?
- Go with Bulleit Bourbon if you want a dry, peppery, high-rye bourbon built for cocktails and available absolutely everywhere at a lower price point.
- 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.
Best enjoyed old-fashioned, cocktails, highball (Bulleit Bourbon); neat, rocks, highball (Basil Hayden’s).