Compare
Wild Turkey 101 vs Basil Hayden’s
Comparing Wild Turkey 101 and Basil Hayden’s reveals a matchup between a traditional, spice-driven Kentucky staple and a traditional, spice-driven Kentucky staple.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Wild Turkey 101 | Basil Hayden’s |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 75% corn, 13% rye, 12% malted barley | 63% corn, 27% rye, 10% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | No age statement |
| Proof | 101 proof (50.5% ABV) +21 proof | 80 proof (40% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$25 – $30 ~$14 less | ~$38 – $45 |
- 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
Wild Turkey 101
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Basil Hayden’s
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Wild Turkey 101 Basil Hayden’s
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
oak 7/3 oak: Wild Turkey 101 7 out of 10, Basil Hayden’s 3 out of 10
heat 6/2 heat: Wild Turkey 101 6 out of 10, Basil Hayden’s 2 out of 10
spice 8/6 spice: Wild Turkey 101 8 out of 10, Basil Hayden’s 6 out of 10
sweetness 6/5 sweetness: Wild Turkey 101 6 out of 10, Basil Hayden’s 5 out of 10
fruit 4/5 fruit: Wild Turkey 101 4 out of 10, Basil Hayden’s 5 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: Wild Turkey 101 3 out of 10, Basil Hayden’s 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Oak is doing most of the differentiating here.
- Wild Turkey 101: The workhorse high-rye Kentucky bourbon and one of the best proof-to-price ratios anywhere. Vanilla and orange up front, then a genuinely spicy, peppery, tobacco-tinged middle that punches well above $25.
- 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 Wild Turkey 101 if you want bold rye spice and real proof at the lowest price of anything comparable.
- 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.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks, old-fashioned, cocktails (Wild Turkey 101); neat, rocks, highball (Basil Hayden’s).