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Maker’s Mark Cask Strength vs Basil Hayden’s
Put Maker’s Mark Cask Strength next to Basil Hayden’s and you have an uncut, high-wheat heavyweight set against a classic, high-rye stalwart.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Maker’s Mark Cask Strength | Basil Hayden’s |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Wheated Bourbon, Barrel Proof | 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 | 110 proof (55% ABV) +30 proof | 80 proof (40% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$40 – $50 | ~$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 Cask Strength
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Basil Hayden’s
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Maker’s Mark Cask Strength Basil Hayden’s
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
heat 7/2 heat: Maker’s Mark Cask Strength 7 out of 10, Basil Hayden’s 2 out of 10
sweetness 9/5 sweetness: Maker’s Mark Cask Strength 9 out of 10, Basil Hayden’s 5 out of 10
spice 3/6 spice: Maker’s Mark Cask Strength 3 out of 10, Basil Hayden’s 6 out of 10
oak 5/3 oak: Maker’s Mark Cask Strength 5 out of 10, Basil Hayden’s 3 out of 10
fruit 5/5 fruit: Maker’s Mark Cask Strength 5 out of 10, Basil Hayden’s 5 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: Maker’s Mark Cask Strength 3 out of 10, Basil Hayden’s 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
These two land very differently on the palate for heat.
- Maker’s Mark Cask Strength: Undiluted Maker's, and the version that finally gives the wheated recipe some weight. Dense caramel and honey with real warmth, and one of the more affordable cask-strength bottles anywhere.
- 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 Cask Strength if you want wheated sweetness at full strength for well under what most cask-strength bourbons cost.
- 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 (Maker’s Mark Cask Strength); neat, rocks, highball (Basil Hayden’s).