Basil Hayden Sr., a Master Distiller from Maryland, uprooted his family and reputation to move to Kentucky in the late 18th century. He did not feel bound by the established conventions of bourbon-making and decided to create a batch using only the ingredients available to him, disregarding what the traditionalists might say about his unorthodox approach. The result was a bourbon with a remarkably high-rye mashbill that blended the sweetness of corn with the spicy notes of rye. Despite the possible disapproval of some traditionalists, the neighbors who sampled it were thoroughly impressed. Today, over 200 years later, the Noe family honors Basil's original recipe with a small-batch bourbon that is high-rye and captures the essence of his ingenious discovery.
