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Jefferson's Reserve Very Old vs Basil Hayden’s
Put Jefferson's Reserve Very Old next to Basil Hayden’s and you have a blender-built, corn-forward bottling set against a classic, high-rye stalwart.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Jefferson's Reserve Very Old | 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 | 90.2 proof (45.1% ABV) +10 proof | 80 proof (40% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$55 – $65 | ~$38 – $45 ~$19 less |
- Jefferson's Reserve Very Old and Basil Hayden’s do not publish an official mash bill.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
Jefferson's Reserve Very Old
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Basil Hayden’s
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Jefferson's Reserve Very Old Basil Hayden’s
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
oak 7/3 oak: Jefferson's Reserve Very Old 7 out of 10, Basil Hayden’s 3 out of 10
heat 4/2 heat: Jefferson's Reserve Very Old 4 out of 10, Basil Hayden’s 2 out of 10
sweetness 6/5 sweetness: Jefferson's Reserve Very Old 6 out of 10, Basil Hayden’s 5 out of 10
spice 5/6 spice: Jefferson's Reserve Very Old 5 out of 10, Basil Hayden’s 6 out of 10
fruit 6/5 fruit: Jefferson's Reserve Very Old 6 out of 10, Basil Hayden’s 5 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: Jefferson's Reserve Very Old 3 out of 10, Basil Hayden’s 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Oak is doing most of the differentiating here.
- Jefferson's Reserve Very Old: The older, drier sibling of Jefferson's Very Small Batch. Buttery toffee and dried fruit sit on a firm, slightly smoky oak backbone, and the finish turns peppery and long.
- 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 Jefferson's Reserve Very Old if you want a mature, oak-driven blend with dried fruit and a dry, peppery finish at an easy proof.
- 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, rocks (Jefferson's Reserve Very Old); neat, rocks, highball (Basil Hayden’s).