The inspiration behind the drink was Meredith Basil Hayden Sr., a farmer who made his bourbon with a high percentage of rye. Booker Noe used this as inspiration to make a high-rye whiskey with a ...

According to Basil Hayden, Subtle Smoke was planned to be a one-off, but the brand reconsidered after it earned $1.9 million in Nielsen Sales in its first six months on shelves.