Distiller Notes
Marked by a rich cascade of aromas and flavors, Basil Hayden Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey is carefully matured for exceptional quality and distilled in the heart of bourbon country in Clermont, Kentucky. This unique, single small batch bourbon whiskey is blessed with rich hints of peppermint, notes of pepper, slight citrus overtones and a spicy, warming finish. Sip neat, on the rocks, in a classic Manhattan or Old Fashioned. Try it in a Mint Julep or Bourbon Mary while savoring the aroma with a spicy, peppery, honey-toned light body and gentle bite. Carefully matured for exceptional quality, Basil Hayden is artfully aged and bottled at 80 proof. Basil Hayden utilizes twice as much rye as the other bourbons in the collection for a gentle yet spicy flavor.
Critical Acclaim
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Late in the 18th century, Master Distiller Basil Hayden Sr. left his Maryland home for the greener pastures of Kentucky, bringing his family and reputation with him.
Not yet privy to the old guard’s ‘rules’ of bourbon, legend has it that Basil set out to make a batch simply using the ingredients he had on hand, unaware of what the traditionalists might think of his mash. What resulted was a bourbon with a uniquely high-rye mashbill, combining the sweetness of corn with the spicy undertones of rye. The purists may have been displeased, but not the neighbors who tried it.
Over 200 years later, the Noe family pays tribute to Basil’s masterful discovery with a high-rye, small batch bourbon that embodies the spirit of that very first recipe.
Basil Hayden’s whiskeys are known for standing out in the crowd. The distinctive flavor of Basil Hayden’s Bourbon was originally inspired by the legend of a family recipe said to date back to 1796 when Master Distiller Basil Hayden Sr. broke 'the rules' and went off-the-beaten-path mixing the spiciness of rye with the smoothness of corn to create a light-bodied, mixable, and smooth yet a little spicy bourbon. Building on the success of the first award-winning Basil Hayden’s Rye Whiskey comes Basil Hayden’s Two by Two Rye, a blend of two Kentucky Straight bourbon whiskies and two Kentucky Straight rye whiskies. The blending team was inspired by the rapid growth of the bourbon and rye categories. They took on the challenge of bringing together whiskies from our large assortment of aging stock to create something incredibly balanced – something that embodies the best that both types of whiskey have to offer – the sweetness of bourbon and the spiciness of rye.
Although Bourbon may be produced anywhere in the United States, it is most commonly associated with Bourbon County, Kentucky, where it has been produced since the late 18th century. Made from a mash bill containing at least 51% corn, the Bourbon Whiskey distillate must be aged in new, charred white oak barrels. Bourbon Whiskeys are bottled at eighty proof (40% abv) or higher and cannot contain any added color or flavor. A versatile spirit that can be sipped neat, with water or on the rocks, it also performs nicely added to cocktails like the Old Fashioned.