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Penelope Toasted Series vs Basil Hayden’s
Put Penelope Toasted Series next to Basil Hayden’s and you have a sourced, high-rye blend set against a classic, high-rye stalwart.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Penelope Toasted Series | Basil Hayden’s |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 75% corn, 21% rye, 4% malted barley | 63% corn, 27% rye, 10% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | No age statement |
| Proof | 100 proof (50% ABV) +20 proof | 80 proof (40% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$55 – $70 | ~$38 – $45 ~$21 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 Toasted Series
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Basil Hayden’s
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Penelope Toasted Series Basil Hayden’s
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
oak 7/3 oak: Penelope Toasted Series 7 out of 10, Basil Hayden’s 3 out of 10
heat 5/2 heat: Penelope Toasted Series 5 out of 10, Basil Hayden’s 2 out of 10
sweetness 7/5 sweetness: Penelope Toasted Series 7 out of 10, Basil Hayden’s 5 out of 10
spice 5/6 spice: Penelope Toasted Series 5 out of 10, Basil Hayden’s 6 out of 10
fruit 4/5 fruit: Penelope Toasted Series 4 out of 10, Basil Hayden’s 5 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: Penelope Toasted Series 3 out of 10, Basil Hayden’s 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Barrel influence is the main separator.
- Penelope Toasted Series: Finished in a second, freshly toasted barrel, which pushes it toward toffee, roasted coffee and darker oak. The toast level changes from batch to batch.
- 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 Toasted Series if you want a toasty, coffee-and-toffee bourbon from a second-barrel finish with more proof behind it and with the texture that comes from skipping chill filtration.
- 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 Toasted Series); neat, rocks, highball (Basil Hayden’s).