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Jack Daniel’s 12 Year vs Basil Hayden’s
Put Jack Daniel’s 12 Year next to Basil Hayden’s and you have a classic, corn-forward stalwart set against a classic, high-rye stalwart.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Jack Daniel’s 12 Year | Basil Hayden’s |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Traditional Tennessee Whiskey | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 80% corn, 8% rye, 12% malted barley | 63% corn, 27% rye, 10% malted barley |
| Age | 12 years | No age statement |
| Proof | 107 proof (53.5% ABV) +27 proof | 80 proof (40% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$80 – $120 | ~$38 – $45 ~$59 less |
| Availability | Limited | Widely available easier to find |
- 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
Jack Daniel’s 12 Year
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Basil Hayden’s
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Jack Daniel’s 12 Year Basil Hayden’s
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
oak 8/3 oak: Jack Daniel’s 12 Year 8 out of 10, Basil Hayden’s 3 out of 10
heat 6/2 heat: Jack Daniel’s 12 Year 6 out of 10, Basil Hayden’s 2 out of 10
sweetness 8/5 sweetness: Jack Daniel’s 12 Year 8 out of 10, Basil Hayden’s 5 out of 10
spice 5/6 spice: Jack Daniel’s 12 Year 5 out of 10, Basil Hayden’s 6 out of 10
fruit 6/5 fruit: Jack Daniel’s 12 Year 6 out of 10, Basil Hayden’s 5 out of 10
nuttiness 4/3 nuttiness: Jack Daniel’s 12 Year 4 out of 10, Basil Hayden’s 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Oak is doing most of the differentiating here.
- Jack Daniel’s 12 Year: Twelve-year Jack Daniel's at 107 proof. Sweet and creamy, with butterscotch, pipe tobacco and seasoned oak.
- 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 Jack Daniel’s 12 Year if you want a sweet, creamy, well-aged Jack Daniel's with pipe tobacco and oak 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 significantly lower price point.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks (Jack Daniel’s 12 Year); neat, rocks, highball (Basil Hayden’s).