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Stellum Bourbon vs Basil Hayden’s
Stellum Bourbon and Basil Hayden’s sit on opposite sides of a familiar divide: an undiluted barrel-strength pour versus an old-guard, rye-forward classic.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Stellum Bourbon | Basil Hayden’s |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Traditional Bourbon, Barrel Proof | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | Not disclosed | 63% corn, 27% rye, 10% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | No age statement |
| Proof | 115 proof (57.5% ABV) +35 proof | 80 proof (40% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$45 – $55 | ~$38 – $45 ~$9 less |
- Stellum Bourbon and Basil Hayden’s do not publish an official mash bill.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
Stellum Bourbon
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Basil Hayden’s
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Stellum Bourbon Basil Hayden’s
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
heat 7/2 heat: Stellum Bourbon 7 out of 10, Basil Hayden’s 2 out of 10
oak 6/3 oak: Stellum Bourbon 6 out of 10, Basil Hayden’s 3 out of 10
sweetness 6/5 sweetness: Stellum Bourbon 6 out of 10, Basil Hayden’s 5 out of 10
spice 7/6 spice: Stellum Bourbon 7 out of 10, Basil Hayden’s 6 out of 10
fruit 4/5 fruit: Stellum Bourbon 4 out of 10, Basil Hayden’s 5 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: Stellum Bourbon 3 out of 10, Basil Hayden’s 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
These two land very differently on the palate for heat.
- Stellum Bourbon: Barrell's lower-priced, cask-strength line. It drinks gentler than its proof, with vanilla and caramel on top of cinnamon, clove and a long, spicy 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 Stellum Bourbon if you want a cask-strength, multi-state blend that drinks easier than its proof 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 slightly lower price point.
Best enjoyed neat, old-fashioned (Stellum Bourbon); neat, rocks, highball (Basil Hayden’s).