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Wild Turkey Longbranch vs Basil Hayden’s
Wild Turkey Longbranch and Basil Hayden’s sit on opposite sides of a familiar divide: an old-guard, classically built classic versus an old-guard, rye-forward classic.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Wild Turkey Longbranch | Basil Hayden’s |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Traditional Bourbon | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 75% corn, 13% rye, 12% malted barley | 63% corn, 27% rye, 10% malted barley |
| Age | 8 years | No age statement |
| Proof | 86 proof (43% ABV) +6 proof | 80 proof (40% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$35 – $45 | ~$38 – $45 |
- Wild Turkey Longbranch and Basil Hayden’s do not publish an official mash bill.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
Wild Turkey Longbranch
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Basil Hayden’s
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Wild Turkey Longbranch Basil Hayden’s
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
sweetness 7/5 sweetness: Wild Turkey Longbranch 7 out of 10, Basil Hayden’s 5 out of 10
spice 4/6 spice: Wild Turkey Longbranch 4 out of 10, Basil Hayden’s 6 out of 10
oak 5/3 oak: Wild Turkey Longbranch 5 out of 10, Basil Hayden’s 3 out of 10
heat 3/2 heat: Wild Turkey Longbranch 3 out of 10, Basil Hayden’s 2 out of 10
nuttiness 2/3 nuttiness: Wild Turkey Longbranch 2 out of 10, Basil Hayden’s 3 out of 10
fruit 5/5 fruit: Wild Turkey Longbranch 5 out of 10, Basil Hayden’s 5 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
The clearest split is how sweet each one drinks.
- Wild Turkey Longbranch: Eight-year Wild Turkey filtered through American oak charcoal and then Texas mesquite charcoal. It is softer and sweeter than the usual Turkey, with honey and orange and a faint smoke.
- 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 Wild Turkey Longbranch if you want a softer, sweeter Wild Turkey with a light mesquite smoke with slightly 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.
Best enjoyed rocks, highball, old-fashioned (Wild Turkey Longbranch); neat, rocks, highball (Basil Hayden’s).