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Maker’s Mark 46 vs Basil Hayden’s
Comparing Maker’s Mark 46 and Basil Hayden’s reveals a matchup between a traditional, wheated Kentucky staple and a traditional, spice-driven Kentucky staple.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Maker’s Mark 46 | Basil Hayden’s |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Wheated Bourbon | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 70% corn, 16% wheat, 14% malted barley | 63% corn, 27% rye, 10% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | No age statement |
| Proof | 94 proof (47% ABV) +14 proof | 80 proof (40% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$38 – $45 | ~$38 – $45 |
- Basil Hayden’s does not publish an official mash bill.
- US shelf prices as of 2026-08; they vary widely by market.
AG’s Rating and AG’s Notes
Maker’s Mark 46
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Basil Hayden’s
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Maker’s Mark 46 Basil Hayden’s
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
oak 7/3 oak: Maker’s Mark 46 7 out of 10, Basil Hayden’s 3 out of 10
sweetness 8/5 sweetness: Maker’s Mark 46 8 out of 10, Basil Hayden’s 5 out of 10
spice 4/6 spice: Maker’s Mark 46 4 out of 10, Basil Hayden’s 6 out of 10
heat 4/2 heat: Maker’s Mark 46 4 out of 10, Basil Hayden’s 2 out of 10
fruit 4/5 fruit: Maker’s Mark 46 4 out of 10, Basil Hayden’s 5 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: Maker’s Mark 46 3 out of 10, Basil Hayden’s 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Oak is doing most of the differentiating here.
- Maker’s Mark 46: Finished with seared French oak staves inside the barrel, which adds the spice and wood that the standard bottling deliberately lacks. The most useful upgrade in the Maker's range.
- 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 Maker’s Mark 46 if you want the softness of Maker's Mark with real oak and spice layered over it with 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 neat, rocks, old-fashioned (Maker’s Mark 46); neat, rocks, highball (Basil Hayden’s).