Compare
Play Like a Champion Today Double Oaked Wheated Bourbon vs Basil Hayden’s
Comparing Play Like a Champion Today Double Oaked Wheated Bourbon and Basil Hayden’s reveals a matchup between a blender-built, wheated bottling and a traditional, spice-driven Kentucky staple.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Play Like a Champion Today Double Oaked Wheated Bourbon | Basil Hayden’s |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Wheated Bourbon | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 72% corn, 18% wheat, 10% malted barley | 63% corn, 27% rye, 10% malted barley |
| Age | 5 years | No age statement |
| Proof | 100 proof (50% ABV) +20 proof | 80 proof (40% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$49 – $55 | ~$38 – $45 ~$11 less |
| Availability | Limited | Widely available easier to find |
- Play Like a Champion Today Double Oaked Wheated Bourbon and Basil Hayden’s do not publish an official mash bill.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
Play Like a Champion Today Double Oaked Wheated Bourbon
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Basil Hayden’s
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Play Like a Champion Today Double Oaked Wheated Bourbon Basil Hayden’s
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
oak 6/3 oak: Play Like a Champion Today Double Oaked Wheated Bourbon 6 out of 10, Basil Hayden’s 3 out of 10
heat 5/2 heat: Play Like a Champion Today Double Oaked Wheated Bourbon 5 out of 10, Basil Hayden’s 2 out of 10
sweetness 7/5 sweetness: Play Like a Champion Today Double Oaked Wheated Bourbon 7 out of 10, Basil Hayden’s 5 out of 10
fruit 3/5 fruit: Play Like a Champion Today Double Oaked Wheated Bourbon 3 out of 10, Basil Hayden’s 5 out of 10
nuttiness 5/3 nuttiness: Play Like a Champion Today Double Oaked Wheated Bourbon 5 out of 10, Basil Hayden’s 3 out of 10
spice 5/6 spice: Play Like a Champion Today Double Oaked Wheated Bourbon 5 out of 10, Basil Hayden’s 6 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Oak is doing most of the differentiating here.
- Play Like a Champion Today Double Oaked Wheated Bourbon: A Notre Dame-licensed wheater given a second, double-oaked barrel. Maple, honey butter and toasted nuts lead, with charred wood and pepper on a long, warm finish.
- 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 Play Like a Champion Today Double Oaked Wheated Bourbon if you want a double-oaked wheater with maple, toasted nuts and charred wood 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 slightly lower price point.
Best enjoyed neat, old-fashioned (Play Like a Champion Today Double Oaked Wheated Bourbon); neat, rocks, highball (Basil Hayden’s).