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Penelope Architect vs Basil Hayden’s
Comparing Penelope Architect and Basil Hayden’s reveals a matchup between a blender-built, even-keeled bottling and a traditional, spice-driven Kentucky staple.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Penelope Architect | Basil Hayden’s |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Four-Grain Bourbon | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 75% corn, 7% rye, 15% wheat, 3% malted barley | 63% corn, 27% rye, 10% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | No age statement |
| Proof | 104 proof (52% ABV) +24 proof | 80 proof (40% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$60 – $70 | ~$38 – $45 ~$24 less |
- Basil Hayden’s does 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
Penelope Architect
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Basil Hayden’s
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Penelope Architect Basil Hayden’s
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
heat 6/2 heat: Penelope Architect 6 out of 10, Basil Hayden’s 2 out of 10
sweetness 7/5 sweetness: Penelope Architect 7 out of 10, Basil Hayden’s 5 out of 10
oak 5/3 oak: Penelope Architect 5 out of 10, Basil Hayden’s 3 out of 10
fruit 6/5 fruit: Penelope Architect 6 out of 10, Basil Hayden’s 5 out of 10
spice 6/6 spice: Penelope Architect 6 out of 10, Basil Hayden’s 6 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: Penelope Architect 3 out of 10, Basil Hayden’s 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
These two land very differently on the palate for heat.
- Penelope Architect: Penelope's four-grain blend finished with French oak staves chosen for their tannin. The French oak adds berry, cherry and warm spice to a vanilla-heavy base.
- 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 Penelope Architect if you want a four-grain bourbon with a French oak finish that adds berries and warm spice 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 lower price point.
Best enjoyed neat, old-fashioned (Penelope Architect); neat, rocks, highball (Basil Hayden’s).