Basil Hayden Bourbon – Crafted in 1992 by Booker Noe as part of the Small Batch collection, Basil Hayden’s introduced a more subtle side of bourbon compared to its counterparts. This style was inspired by 1792 whiskey pioneer Meredith Basil Hayden, Sr., a rye farmer from Maryland who moved to Kentucky and began distilling. He chose to make his bourbon with a higher percentage of rye and 200 years later, Booker set out to create a similar high-rye mash bill for the same refined, approachable taste. Today, Basil Hayden’s stands as a tribute to its high rye roots, as well as to Booker Noe, a true innovator who sought to welcome new drinkers into whiskey.