July 15, 2026

Hayner Distilling Rebuilds A Legacy By Reverse-Engineering A 1904 Bourbon

1 hour 6 minutes

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We sit down with Greg from Hayner Distilling to trace a 150-year Ohio whiskey legacy from 1866 through Prohibition to a modern revival built on blending, transparency, and great barrels. We also dig into what makes a memorable tasting-room experience and why limited releases and community events can pull people off the shelf and into the story.
• Hayner Distilling history from 1866 to Prohibition to a 2020 relaunch
• Rebuilding the brand by reverse-engineering a 1904 bottle sample
• Why Hayner uses Bardstown Bourbon Company for contract distilling
• Blending philosophy vs single barrels, chasing complexity over “smooth”
• Rye and bourbon combinations that win blind tastings
• Barrel proof experience with fill-your-own bottles from the barrel
• Expansion plans for a larger 1910s to 1920s themed space
• Troy, Ohio stops to pair with a distillery trip
• Craft whiskey marketing realities, crowded shelves, and earning the second bottle
• Event talk: Bourbon and Cigars at Mother Stewart’s plus an exclusive Hayner bottle
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A forgotten Ohio whiskey giant is back and it’s not pretending the old world never changed. We’re joined by Greg from Hayner Distilling in Troy, Ohio to unpack how a brand founded in 1866 became the largest distiller in the state, shut down with Prohibition, and then re-emerged in 2020 with a very modern playbook: transparency, barrel selection, and serious whiskey blending.

We get into the nuts and bolts of the revival, including how Hayner took a 1904 bottle sample to Bardstown Bourbon Company to help reverse-engineer an original-style mash bill, then built today’s lineup while their own barrels come of age. If you care about craft whiskey, sourced bourbon done right, MGP rye, and what separates a smart blend from a random mix, you’ll love the way Greg talks about complexity, mouthfeel, and why blends often beat single barrels in blind tastings.

Then we shift from liquid to experience. We talk distillery visits, Hayner’s barrel proof “fill-your-own” setup, and the big expansion into a larger 1910s to 1920s themed tasting space with a whiskey thieving room and a dedicated history area. We also preview the Bourbon and Cigars event at Mother Stewart’s and the exclusive Hayner bottle tied to it, plus why limited releases and community-driven events still matter in a crowded bourbon market.

If you’re into Ohio bourbon, American whiskey history, and the future of blending culture, hit play. Subscribe, share this with a whiskey friend, and leave us a five-star review so more people can find the show.