Basil Hayden's

In 1785, Maryland-born farmer and distiller Basil Hayden Sr. moved with his family to Kentucky and began distilling whiskey near Bardstown in 1792 - his first documented bottling dates to 1796. What set Hayden apart from his contemporaries was his bold approach to the mash bill: he added considerably more rye than was customary at the time, trading classic corn sweetness for a spicy, peppery profile - an innovation that posthumously earned him the nickname "King of High-Rye Bourbon". It was this very tradition that Booker Noe, sixth-generation member of the Jim Beam family and himself the creator of Booker's and Knob Creek, honoured in 1992 by launching Basil Hayden's - to this day the only high-rye bourbon in the Jim Beam portfolio.

Basil Hayden's 8 year old

Food information

Natural Colour

Content: 0.7 Liter (€62.84 / 1 Liter)

Available, delivery time: 1-3 business days

€43.99

Details & Buy

Who was Basil Hayden Sr. really?

A farmer and distiller from Maryland who moved to Kentucky in 1785 and, from 1792, made whiskey with an unusually high rye content - a style that earned him the nickname "King of High-Rye Bourbon".

Who created the modern Basil Hayden's brand?

Booker Noe, Jim Beam's grandson and creator of Booker's and Knob Creek, launched the brand in 1992 as a tribute to Hayden's historic high-rye recipe.

Flavour profile

Taste: Light and elegant with pepper, clove and a fine citrus note - noticeably spicier and less sweet than classic bourbons.

Recommended enjoyment: Neat or lightly chilled, also an ideal mild entry point into the world of high-rye bourbons.

Start with Basil Hayden's 8 Year Old.

Facts and figures

Basil Hayden Sr.: settled in Kentucky 1785, first distillation 1792. Brand launched 1992 by Booker Noe. Mash bill: 63% corn, 27% rye, 10% malted barley.