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Copper & Kings Butchertown Bourbon vs Basil Hayden’s
Copper & Kings Butchertown Bourbon and Basil Hayden’s sit on opposite sides of a familiar divide: a blender-built, classically built bottling versus an old-guard, rye-forward classic.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Copper & Kings Butchertown Bourbon | Basil Hayden’s |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Traditional Bourbon | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | Not disclosed | 63% corn, 27% rye, 10% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | No age statement |
| Proof | 111 proof (55.5% ABV) +31 proof | 80 proof (40% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$40 – $70 | ~$38 – $45 ~$14 less |
| Availability | Limited | Widely available easier to find |
- Copper & Kings Butchertown Bourbon and Basil Hayden’s do not publish an official mash bill.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
Copper & Kings Butchertown Bourbon
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Basil Hayden’s
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Copper & Kings Butchertown Bourbon Basil Hayden’s
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
heat 6/2 heat: Copper & Kings Butchertown Bourbon 6 out of 10, Basil Hayden’s 2 out of 10
oak 6/3 oak: Copper & Kings Butchertown Bourbon 6 out of 10, Basil Hayden’s 3 out of 10
fruit 8/5 fruit: Copper & Kings Butchertown Bourbon 8 out of 10, Basil Hayden’s 5 out of 10
sweetness 7/5 sweetness: Copper & Kings Butchertown Bourbon 7 out of 10, Basil Hayden’s 5 out of 10
spice 6/6 spice: Copper & Kings Butchertown Bourbon 6 out of 10, Basil Hayden’s 6 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: Copper & Kings Butchertown 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.
- Copper & Kings Butchertown Bourbon: Kentucky bourbon finished in the Louisville brandy maker's apple brandy barrels. The finish reads like caramel apple pie: baked apple and cinnamon over a sturdy oak base.
- 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 Copper & Kings Butchertown Bourbon if you want an apple-brandy-finished bourbon that tastes like caramel apple pie with significantly more proof behind it.
- 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 lower price point.
Best enjoyed neat, old-fashioned (Copper & Kings Butchertown Bourbon); neat, rocks, highball (Basil Hayden’s).