Distiller Notes
This ultra-premium, limited-time special release features the same high-rye mash bill that Basil Hayden fans know and love, finished in hickory smoked, new charred oak barrels, delivering delicate campfire notes that perfectly complement the base flavor profile. This secondary finishing results in an aroma of mellow smoke character with a hint of sweet vanilla, followed by a palate with notes of soft char and a light sweetness reminiscent of caramel and maple. The delicate smokiness in this expression provides a unique profile, while still holding true to the approachability and refinement of all Basil Hayden offerings. Perfected and second to none.
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.