Basil Hayden vs Old Forester:Which is more popular?
In September 2026, Basil Hayden had more branded searches than Old Forester among bourbon brands worldwide. Basil Hayden had about 40,500 branded searches, while Old Forester had 27,100. Basil Hayden made up 3% of all bourbon brand searches we track, and Old Forester accounted for 2%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about bourbon brands, Old Forester appeared in two of the five answers and Basil Hayden in one. Old Forester was mentioned before Basil Hayden in two out of three answers that named either.
Who do people search for more?
Basil Hayden, about 49% more searches than Old Forester
Who does AI mention more?
Old Forester, mentioned in 2 of 5 answers, Basil Hayden in 1
Who does AI recommend more?
Old Forester, named ahead of Basil Hayden in 2 of 3 answers
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Top bourbon brands in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews
In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Old Forester was mentioned in two out of five: in one of the three ChatGPT answers and in one of the two Google AI Overviews. Basil Hayden was mentioned in one out of five: in one of the three ChatGPT answers, but not in either of the two Google AI Overviews. Old Forester was listed before Basil Hayden in two out of three answers that named either.
Most recommended by AI
Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.
Mentioned by AI
Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.
Four Roses5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
Buffalo Trace4 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
Maker's Mark4 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
Woodford Reserve4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
Elijah Craig4 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
Wild Turkey4 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
Blanton's2 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
Knob Creek2 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers- Old Forester2 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
- Basil Hayden1 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
See every answer about bourbon brands
5 answers
Asked ChatGPT
“Which bourbon should I buy?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What are the best bourbon brands?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What's a good bourbon for a beginner?”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“bourbon brands”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“bourbon whiskey”
Not named in any answer:
Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in the United States on October 25, 2026.
Is Basil Hayden or Old Forester more popular in search?
This chart shows how often people search Google for Basil Hayden and Old Forester by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all 15 bourbon brands we track, month by month, from English-language searches worldwide.
Share of searches by month for Basil Hayden, Old Forester. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of searches table
| Month | Jim Beam | Buffalo Trace | Maker's Mark | Woodford Reserve | Blanton's | Bulleit | Eagle Rare | Elijah Craig | Wild Turkey | Evan Williams | Basil Hayden | Four Roses | Knob Creek | Old Forester | Angel's Envy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 20.5% | 11.2% | 13.7% | 11.2% | 7.5% | 6.2% | 6.2% | 4.1% | 4.6% | 4.1% | 3.4% | 2.8% | 2.3% | 1.8% | 0.37% |
| Nov 2025 | 18.8% | 12.5% | 12.5% | 10.3% | 6.9% | 6.9% | 6.9% | 3.8% | 5.1% | 4.6% | 3.8% | 3.1% | 2.5% | 2.1% | 0.34% |
| Dec 2025 | 26.7% | 9.8% | 12% | 9.8% | 6.6% | 6.6% | 8% | 3.6% | 4% | 2.9% | 3.6% | 2.9% | 2% | 1.3% | 0.32% |
| Jan 2026 | 20.5% | 11.2% | 13.7% | 11.2% | 7.5% | 6.2% | 6.2% | 4.1% | 4.6% | 4.1% | 3.4% | 2.8% | 2.3% | 1.8% | 0.37% |
| Feb 2026 | 28% | 10.3% | 12.6% | 10.3% | 5.6% | 5.6% | 5.6% | 3.8% | 4.2% | 3.8% | 3.1% | 3.1% | 2.1% | 1.7% | 0.33% |
| Mar 2026 | 19.6% | 10.7% | 13.1% | 10.7% | 8.8% | 5.9% | 5.9% | 4.8% | 5% | 4.8% | 3.2% | 2.6% | 2.6% | 1.8% | 0.35% |
| Apr 2026 | 20.1% | 11% | 13.5% | 11% | 7.4% | 6% | 6% | 4% | 5.1% | 4.9% | 3.3% | 2.7% | 2.7% | 1.8% | 0.36% |
| May 2026 | 17.7% | 9.7% | 11.9% | 11.9% | 6.5% | 6.5% | 5.3% | 11.9% | 4.9% | 3.6% | 2.9% | 2.9% | 2.4% | 1.6% | 0.32% |
| Jun 2026 | 19.5% | 10.7% | 13.1% | 10.7% | 7.2% | 7.2% | 5.9% | 5.9% | 4.8% | 3.2% | 3.2% | 3.9% | 2.6% | 1.8% | 0.35% |
| Jul 2026 | 20.5% | 11.2% | 13.7% | 11.2% | 7.5% | 6.2% | 6.2% | 4.1% | 4.6% | 3.4% | 2.8% | 4.1% | 2.3% | 1.8% | 0.37% |
| Aug 2026 | 22.9% | 10.3% | 15.3% | 10.3% | 6.9% | 5.6% | 5.6% | 4.6% | 4.8% | 3.1% | 3.1% | 3.1% | 2.1% | 1.7% | 0.92% |
| Sep 2026 | 22.3% | 12.2% | 12.2% | 10% | 6.7% | 5.5% | 5.5% | 5.5% | 4.7% | 3.7% | 3% | 3% | 2% | 2% | 1.6% |
How has the Basil Hayden and Old Forester comparison changed over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- Basil Hayden was ahead of Old Forester in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Basil Hayden’s share of searches among bourbon brands worldwide moved from 3.4% to 3%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 49.5K to 40.5K.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Old Forester’s share of searches among bourbon brands worldwide moved from 1.8% to 2%, and its estimated monthly branded searches held steady at 27.1K.
How did search popularity change for bourbon brands worldwide in September 2026?
2 changes
In September 2026, Evan Williams overtook Basil Hayden to rank 10th among bourbon brands worldwide, with 3.7% of the searches.
Estimated monthly branded searches for Basil Hayden worldwide fell 18.2% over 12 measured months, from 49.5K to 40.5K in September 2026.
How are branded searches counted?
2 search terms
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Basil Hayden’s and Old Forester’s names. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for these branded terms can be used to understand whether interest in the brands is growing, holding steady, or fading.
Basil Hayden
1 branded search term
- basil hayden
Old Forester
1 branded search term
- old forester
Other head-to-heads among bourbon brands
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