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Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond vs Basil Hayden’s
Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond and Basil Hayden’s sit on opposite sides of a familiar divide: an old-guard, wheat-forward classic versus an old-guard, rye-forward classic.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond | Basil Hayden’s |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Wheated Bourbon | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 68% corn, 20% wheat, 12% malted barley | 63% corn, 27% rye, 10% malted barley |
| Age | 9 years | No age statement |
| Proof | 100 proof (50% ABV) +20 proof | 80 proof (40% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$110 – $180 | ~$38 – $45 ~$104 less |
| Availability | Allocated | Widely available easier to find |
- 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
Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Basil Hayden’s
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond Basil Hayden’s
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
spice 2/6 spice: Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond 2 out of 10, Basil Hayden’s 6 out of 10
oak 7/3 oak: Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond 7 out of 10, Basil Hayden’s 3 out of 10
sweetness 8/5 sweetness: Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond 8 out of 10, Basil Hayden’s 5 out of 10
heat 4/2 heat: Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond 4 out of 10, Basil Hayden’s 2 out of 10
fruit 6/5 fruit: Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond 6 out of 10, Basil Hayden’s 5 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond 3 out of 10, Basil Hayden’s 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
The gap between these two is mostly about spice.
- Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond: The decanter series, released twice a year at varying ages, and Heaven Hill's most serious wheated statement. Age shows as polished oak and stewed fruit rather than tannin, but you pay handsomely for the bottle.
- 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 Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond if you want an aged, bonded wheater in a presentation bottle and the price is not the obstacle 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 at a significantly lower price point.
Best enjoyed neat (Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond); neat, rocks, highball (Basil Hayden’s).