Made in 1992 by Booker Noe as part of the Small Batch collection, Basil Hayden's introduced a more subtle side to bourbon than its counterparts. The style was inspired by 1792 whiskey pioneer Meredith Basil Hayden, Sr. a Maryland rye farmer 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 rye mashed potato for the same refined, accessible taste. Today, Basil Hayden's is a tribute to its rye-raised roots, as well as to Booker Noe, a true innovator who sought to welcome new whisky lovers.