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Charles Goodnight Bourbon vs Basil Hayden’s
Put Charles Goodnight Bourbon next to Basil Hayden’s and you have an uncut, high-rye heavyweight set against a classic, high-rye stalwart.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Charles Goodnight Bourbon | Basil Hayden’s |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon, Barrel Proof | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 60% corn, 36% rye, 4% malted barley | 63% corn, 27% rye, 10% malted barley |
| Age | 6 years | No age statement |
| Proof | 115 proof (57.5% ABV) +35 proof | 80 proof (40% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$75 – $80 | ~$38 – $45 ~$36 less |
- Basil Hayden’s does not publish an official mash bill.
- US shelf prices as of 2026-10; they vary widely by market.
AG’s Rating and AG’s Notes
Charles Goodnight Bourbon
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Basil Hayden’s
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Charles Goodnight Bourbon Basil Hayden’s
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
heat 8/2 heat: Charles Goodnight Bourbon 8 out of 10, Basil Hayden’s 2 out of 10
oak 8/3 oak: Charles Goodnight Bourbon 8 out of 10, Basil Hayden’s 3 out of 10
sweetness 7/5 sweetness: Charles Goodnight Bourbon 7 out of 10, Basil Hayden’s 5 out of 10
spice 7/6 spice: Charles Goodnight Bourbon 7 out of 10, Basil Hayden’s 6 out of 10
fruit 6/5 fruit: Charles Goodnight Bourbon 6 out of 10, Basil Hayden’s 5 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: Charles Goodnight Bourbon 3 out of 10, Basil Hayden’s 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
These two land very differently on the palate for heat.
- Charles Goodnight Bourbon: A barrel-strength Texas bourbon. The hot Texas climate pulls a lot of oak in six years, giving deep wood, brown sugar and dark fruit with plenty of rye spice.
- 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 Charles Goodnight Bourbon if you want a bold, oak-heavy Texas bourbon at barrel strength with the texture that comes from skipping chill filtration.
- 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 significantly lower price point.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks (Charles Goodnight Bourbon); neat, rocks, highball (Basil Hayden’s).