In whiskey enthusiasm, each day is an adventure inching you closer to an even greater adventure. The key is finding friends to share those adventures with.
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In whiskey enthusiasm, each day is an adventure inching you closer to an even greater adventure. The key is finding friends to share those adventures with.
The post Renegades and Raconteurs appeared first on Rare Bird 101.
Nestled in the heart of Kentucky, Wilderness Trail Distillery stands as a testament to the enduring legacy of bourbon craftsmanship. Founded on a blend of scientific precision and unwavering respect for tradition, the distillery has carved a unique nic…
Nestled in the heart of Kentucky, Wilderness Trail Distillery stands as a testament to the enduring legacy of bourbon craftsmanship. Founded on a blend of scientific precision and unwavering respect for tradition, the distillery has carved a unique niche for itself, captivating bourbon enthusiasts with its meticulously crafted spirits. Learn more in our Wilderness Trail Distillery Tour review!
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Wilderness Trail 8 Year Wheated Bourbon is a small batch bourbon, made from only 18 barrels. It was pot-distilled with a mashbill of 64% corn, 24% wheat and 12% malted barley. So what’s it like? Read our full review to find out!
The post Wilderness Tra…
Wilderness Trail 8 Year Wheated Bourbon is a small batch bourbon, made from only 18 barrels. It was pot-distilled with a mashbill of 64% corn, 24% wheat and 12% malted barley. So what's it like? Read our full review to find out!
The post Wilderness Trail 8 Year Wheated Bourbon Review appeared first on Bourbon Obsessed℠ .
Before bourbon, I had fewer friends. To the outsider, this might sound strange. But to the majority of us in the whiskey community, it rings true. The relationships fostered within this hobby eclipse any rare bottle or remarkable flavor profile. Friend…
Before bourbon, I had fewer friends. To the outsider, this might sound strange. But to the majority of us in the whiskey community, it rings true. The relationships fostered within this hobby eclipse any rare bottle or remarkable flavor profile. Friendship, fellowship, and an appreciation of the moment are the most valuable things whiskey enthusiasm […]
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Well, things just keep moving forward at Wilderness Trail Distillery. It seems like just last year they released their Small Batch Bottled In Bond Rye. Now, they are releasing their Small Batch Bottled In Bond Rye that is 7 years old! I have had a lot of Wilderness Trail’s whiskeys, but this is the first of their ryes that I have tried of that age. What’s it like? Read our review to find out!
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Please enjoy our Wilderness Trail 7 Year Rye Review!
As a long time Wilderness Trail Rye fan, I was very eager to try their new 7 year old rye!
Well, things just keep moving forward at Wilderness Trail Distillery. It seems like just last year they released their Small Batch Bottled In Bond Rye. Now, they are releasing their Small Batch Bottled In Bond Rye that is 7 years old! I have had a lot of Wilderness Trail’s whiskeys, but this is the first of their ryes that I have tried of that age.
Other than the age, and being a small batch rather than a single barrel, everything is the same as it has been. The Wilderness Trail 7 Year Rye mash bill is no longer on the label. However, we will assume it is the same: sweet mash, 56% rye, 33% corn & 11% malted barley.
From the label: Made from a traditional mash bill of rye, corn, and malted barley. Copper column distilled from a single fermented batch using our sweet mash process.
This rye was distilled back in the early days of Wilderness Trail Distillery. Therefore, I suspect that it was pot distilled, even though it says column still on the label. The column still became operational in June 2016, I believe, and it is now April 2023. So….if the rye is 7 years old…I’ll let you do the math!
Many people have said that you can’t make a rye whiskey from Kentucky rye. Well, the folks at Wilderness Trail never believed that. Their rye is locally grown at Caverndale Farms. My understanding is that Kentucky rye is a smaller grain than some other ryes and is indeed fairly difficult to work with, although all rye is to some degree. Nonetheless, it can certainly be used to make a wonderful rye whiskey!
Let’s taste it:
Rested for 15 minutes in a Glencairn
Nose: Fresh citrus, like orange peels and limes; rye spices with noticeable cloves; thick brown sugar; a bit of confectioners’ sugar and a touch of burnt caramel and vanilla; alcohol is present but not overpoweringTaste: Both brown sugar and simple syrup sweetness balanced by lots of citrus, notably lime; the cloves and other rye spices add nice complexityFinish: White pepper spice rapidly builds; citrus lingers but diminishes; sweetness also fades to be replaced by a bit of cooling, possibly from some subtle wintergreen; light barrel char joins in to hang out til the end; long finish with a moderate burn
This is a delicious rye. It is the perfect combination of the “bite” that one expects from a rye, with plenty of citrus and rye spices. But, the full bodied brown sugar that is present throughout mellows those flavors. The vanilla is a bit of a very welcome surprise. That’s likely thanks to the combination of the relatively high corn content and the age, allowing the sharper flavors to mellow a bit and to let more barrel flavors come through.
I have been a fan of Wilderness Trail’s rye since it was first released in maybe late 2018 or 2019. If memory serves me, it was released in Washington D.C. first (!!) before it was released in Kentucky! Yeah, I hold a grudge.
However, from my first taste, I knew this was a rye that I would always have on my bar, and that still holds true today. So I am very excited about this 7 year old Wilderness Trail Rye, and am glad, but certainly not surprised, that it lives up to my expectations!
Are you a Wilderness Trail Rye fan? Have you tried the new 7 Year Rye? What did you think? Cheers!
We hope you have enjoyed our Wilderness Trail 7 Year Rye Review! Would you like to read about another older whiskey from Wilderness Trail Distillery? Check out our Wilderness Trail 8 Year Bourbon Review!
Would you like to learn more about distilleries and bourbon? Are you planning a trip to Kentucky Distilleries? Maybe you would like to live the bourbon life vicariously through us?
If any of these are true, then check out BourbonObsessed.com today!
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First, Wilderness Trail made some rye whiskey. After the barrels were dumped, maple syrup from Vermont aged in them. Then, after the syrup was dumped, the barrels were filled with 5 year old rye whiskey and aged another 6 months. An voila! We have Wilderness Trail’s first finished whiskey!! What’s it like? Read our Wilderness Trail Maple Barrel Finish Rye review and find out!
The post Wilderness Trail Maple Rye Review appeared first on Bourbon Obsessed℠ .
Please enjoy our Wilderness Trail Maple Barrel Finish Rye Review!
First Wilderness Trail Distillery made some rye whiskey. After the barrels were dumped, maple syrup from Vermont aged in them. Then, after the syrup was dumped, the barrels were filled with 5 year old rye whiskey and aged another 6 months. And, voila! We have Wilderness Trail’s first finished whiskey!!
Let’s taste it:
Rested for 15 minutes in a Glencairn
Nose: Sweet, with brown sugar, dark fruits in the back like plums & dark cherries, orange citrus, rye spices & light cedar. Rich maple syrup becomes gradually more noticeable; moderate alcoholTaste: Interestingly, it tastes as it smells; the rye spices are there, mellowed a bit by the maple syrup.Finish: Black pepper spice builds in the long finish, but the sweetness lingers on; moderate burn
The effect that the maple syrup has on this whiskey is quite interesting. Sweetness and rye spices are the first things that hit me in the nose. However, that sweetness is not initially identifiable as maple syrup. Later on, the rich maple syrup flavors become more noticeable but blend very nicely and are not at all overpowering. The same things happens in the taste; the Wilderness Trail Rye flavors that I love are there, and the maple blends with them in a very complimentary way. Even the maple syrup will not temper the spice that builds in the finish, and that’s a good thing!
There are a LOT of finished whiskeys out there these days! For some distilleries, that is pretty much their focus. Others, not so much, but nonetheless, almost all have dipped a toe. Some people love them, some purists hate them, but I think by now, almost everyone has found at least one that they enjoy. For me, the perfect finished whiskey is one where the base spirit is complemented by the finish, not overpowered by it. While that seems simple, I have tasted many finished bourbons that completely lacked balance. So, in practice, getting that balance must be a lot more difficult than it sounds.
Personally, I think rye stands up to finishing better than bourbon because of its naturally spiciness. Whereas with bourbon, the flavors can be softer, especially if not at higher proof, and easily overpowered. Wilderness Trail Maple Barrel Finish Rye has achieved the perfect balance. The finish is totally complimentary to the rye whiskey. I won’t go quite as far as to say that if you didn’t know it was a finished whiskey you might just think it was a very sweet rye, but it’s not that far off. Well done, Macaulay!
What is your preference – finished ryes or finished bourbons? Cheers!
We hope you have enjoyed our Wilderness Trail Maple Barrel Finish Rye Review! Next, read about Wilderness Trail’s unfinished rye in our Wilderness Trail Small Batch Rye Review! Or if you want to learn more about the distillery itself, read our Wilderness Trail Distillery Review!
Would you like to learn more about distilleries and bourbon? Are you planning a trip to Kentucky Distilleries? Maybe you would like to live the bourbon life vicariously through us? If any of these are true, then check out BourbonObsessed.com today!
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Bourbon is big business. Earlier this week, the news dropped that spirits giant Campari (Milan, Italy based) is set to buy a 70% stake in Danville, Kentucky’s “Wilderness Trail Distillery” (WTD) for a cool $420 mill. The distillery’s overall value being placed at $600M. Not bad for a juice maker that opened in 2012 with […]
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Bourbon is big business. Earlier this week, the news dropped that spirits giant Campari (Milan, Italy based) is set to buy a 70% stake in Danville, Kentucky’s “Wilderness Trail Distillery” (WTD) for a cool $420 mill. The distillery’s overall value being placed at $600M.
Not bad for a juice maker that opened in 2012 with a small 250 gallon pot still that made about a barrel (53 gallons) a day. The remaining 30% is set for acquirement in 2031, based on the outstanding capital of Wilderness Trail.
Campari already has skin in the Kentucky Bourbon game as it bought Wild Turkey outright from Pernod Ricard in 2009 for $575M. Shows you how much has changed in a little over a decade. Barely decade old WTD has a higher evaluation now versus global institution Wild Turkey when it was acquired. I’m sure the bean counters at Campari are quite happy now with their 2009 purchase. Some notable brands in their portfolio include Aperol, Campari (duh), Skyy Vodka, and Grand Marnier.
WTD was founded by Shane Baker and Dr. Patrick Heist. The two are highly respected yeast and fermentation experts in the distilling, brewing and wine making industries. Their joint business, Ferm Solutions, established 2006, has provided its scientific expertise to alcohol making operations across the globe.
Prior to Ferm Solutions, Baker and Heist go back to undergrad at the University of Kentucky. Baker would get his mechanical engineering degree as Heist would pursue microbiology with a Ph.D. in plant pathology. It appears the two “chose wisely” on starting their own distillery. But being the science buffs they are, I’m sure they’ll tell you knowledge is the only true reward;).
Acquisitions and big investments in the industry are becoming more and more the standard. Case in point:
It will be interesting to see the next big acquisition move in the industry.
The post Wilderness Trail Distillery Bought by Campari at $600M Valuation first appeared on The Bourbon Review.
What is the perfect age for bourbon whiskey ? The opinion on this topic varies greatly but most whiskey experts would agree between 8 and 12 years. Wilderness Trail Distillery has hit one of those marks and just released an 8 year old bottled in bond. They like to call it the sweet spot. Wilderness
The post Wilderness Trail 8 year Bourbon Review appeared first on The Bourbon Road.
What is the perfect age for bourbon whiskey ?
The opinion on this topic varies greatly but most whiskey experts would agree between 8 and 12 years.
Wilderness Trail Distillery has hit one of those marks and just released an 8 year old bottled in bond. They like to call it the sweet spot.
Wilderness Trail Distillery is a family-owned distillery in Danville, Kentucky that started operations in 2013. After spending over 10 years as consultants and providing yeast and optimization services to most of the industry, Shane Baker and Pat Heist set out on a journey to make the worlds best whiskey. Let’s see how they are doing.
We hope you enjoy Jim and Mike’s review. Be sure to check out the podcast episode on your favorite platform, for more information. Cheers!
Tasting Notes: Wilderness Trail 8 year Bourbon
Vital Stats: This bottled in bond sweetmash Kentucky straight bourbon whiskey has been aged for 8 years. It has a Mash-bill that is 64% Corn, 24% Rye, 12% Malted Barley. It is 100 proof and an MSRP of $86
Appearance: New bottle design that is slimmer in the waist with copper whiskey inside. We love it.
Nose: Fruitcake with leather and oak. Nuttiness that has a little spice.
Palate: Dry sweet honeycomb cereal along with some butterscotch and dried fruits. The leather and oak are present. It’s very chewy with root beer candy character.
Finish: Medium with a slight Kentucky hug.
Overall: This is a fine representation of Kentucky bourbon done right. With local grains Pat and Shane have crafted a gem. It’s a buy for both of us and we recommend you get one on yourself.
The post Wilderness Trail 8 year Bourbon Review appeared first on The Bourbon Road.
Wilderness Trail 8 Year Bourbon is a small batch, which in this case is 18-20 barrels. This bourbon is Bottled In Bond, so it’s 100 proof by definition. The first batch is being sold only at the distillery, with the second batch to be sold throughout Kentucky. There’s definitely a noticeable difference between this 8 year old bourbon and their regular release, which is around 5 years or so. The flavors are definitely more mature. Notably, this bourbon changed considerably aftter having a day or two to open up. The fruit flavors, as well as the more mature flavors really developed, as did more complexity. This is all around a very enjoyable bourbon, and definitely worth the 8 year wait!
The post Wilderness Trail 8 Year Bourbon Review appeared first on Bourbon Obsessed℠ .
Please enjoy my Wilderness Trail 8 Year Bourbon Review!
If you are a Wilderness Trail Distillery fan like I am, then these are exciting times! While it seems like just yesterday when I tried their first bourbon back in the Spring of 2018, apparently it has been a bit longer. Four years have since passed, and we now have the release of Wilderness Trail’s 8 Year Old Bottled In Bond Bourbon!
While Wilderness Trail Distillery’s first release was their wheated bourbon, with a mashbill of 64% corn, 24% wheat and 12% malted barley, this release uses their rye bourbon mashbill. To clarify, that means that rye replaces the wheat as the secondary grain. As usual for Wilderness Trail, this bourbon is made using a sweet mash, meaning that they start from scratch every time, as opposed to a sour mash which uses a bit of the backset from a prior distillation. Interestingly, the label says that this bourbon was distilled on a copper column still. However, that’s a little white lie, since Wilderness Trail only had a copper pot still 8 years ago. I’ll let them slide on that one; I know they’re excited!
Wilderness Trail 8 Year Bourbon is a small batch, which in this case is 18-20 barrels. This bourbon is Bottled In Bond, so it’s 100 proof by definition. The first batch is being sold only at the distillery, with the second batch to be sold throughout Kentucky.
Let’s taste it:
Rested for 15 minutes in a Glencairn
Nose: Vanilla, cherry, caramel, oak, honey, cinnamon, crème brûlée, light leather & cigar ash, but in a good way; moderate alcoholTaste: Honey, caramel, cherry candy & cinnamonFinish: The flavors continue and pick up some black pepper and cayenne spice. Cinnamon spice and cherry linger. There’s a little barrel char, too. It’s a fairly long finish with a moderate burn.
There’s definitely a noticeable difference between this Wilderness Trail 8 Year Old Bourbon and their regular release, which is around 5 years or so. The flavors are definitely more mature. Notably, this bourbon changed considerably after having a day or two to open up. The fruit flavors, as well as the more mature flavors, really developed, as did more complexity. This is all around a very enjoyable bourbon, and definitely worth the 8 year wait! Are you a Wilderness Trail fan? Cheers!
I hope you have enjoyed my Wilderness Trail 8 Year Bourbon Review! Check out my Wilderness Trail Small Batch Wheated Bourbon Review and my Wilderness Trail 6 Year Old Bourbon Review!
Would you like to learn more about distilleries and bourbon? Are you planning a trip to Kentucky Distilleries? Maybe you would like to live the bourbon life vicariously through us? If any of these are true, then check out BourbonObsessed.com today!
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If you’ve followed me for a while, you know that I have been a huge Wilderness Trail Distillery fan ever since their first bourbon release. A couple of weeks ago I had posted about their new Small Batch Wheated Bourbon, and mentioned some of the changes they have going on, one of which is this new Bottled In Bond Small Batch Rye which is replacing their Single Barrel Barrel Proof Rye in their core whiskey line up.
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Please enjoy my Wilderness Trail Small Batch Rye review!
If you’ve followed me for a while, you know that I have been a huge Wilderness Trail Distillery fan ever since their first bourbon release. A couple of weeks ago I had posted about their new Small Batch Wheated Bourbon. I mentioned some of the changes they have going on, one of which is this new Bottled In Bond Small Batch Rye which is replacing their Settlers Select Single Barrel Barrel Proof Rye in their core whiskey line up.
I really enjoy Wilderness Trail’s wheated bourbon and rye at barrel proof, and if you do too, don’t worry. They will still be available, but only through Wilderness Trail’s single barrel program. Their core line up will now be all Bottled In Bond small batch whiskeys – the wheated bourbon, the high rye bourbon and this rye whiskey.
So what about this rye? Well, it’s the same mash bill and process as it’s always been: 56% rye, 33% corn, 11% malted barley. They always use a sweet mash and distill in a continuous copper column still. The rye distillate is barreled at 100 or 105 proof in char #4 barrels. This batch is close to 5 years old.
Let’s taste it:
Rested for 15 minutes in a Glencairn
Nose: Citrus, like lemon and tangerines; honey, brown sugar, vanilla, butterscotch, rye spices, cedar, wintergreen; hint of sweet cherry candy and red delicious apples in the background with a light floral note – maybe violets? moderate alcoholTaste: Citrus, oak, some char, rye bread, anise, caramel, cherry and quite a bit of rye spices, tooFinish: Capsaicin spice builds into the long finish, yet some sweetness, fruit, floral notes and butterscotch linger, too; moderate burn
I am enjoying this rye, but I have mixed feelings. Here’s the thing: Wilderness Trail’s Barrel Strength Single Barrel Rye is one of my favorite ryes. That extra proof and the uniqueness of each barrel gives it exceptional, full, “in yo’ face” flavors which I just love. The Small Batch has those flavors, although they are a bit more balanced and consequently, subdued. In exchange, there are the noticeable cherry, apple, floral and butterscotch notes which are not as evident in the single barrels that I have had. At a recent tasting, in fact, the Small Batch Bottled In Bond Rye was the fan favorite. So definitely give it a try and see for yourself!
I hope you have enjoyed my Wilderness Trail Small Batch Rye review! Check out some more of my other Wilderness Trail whiskey reviews: Wilderness Trail Small Batch Wheated Bourbon Review, Wilderness Trail Settlers Select Rye Review and Wilderness Trail 6 Year Old Bourbon Review.
Would you like to learn more about distilleries and bourbon? Are you planning a trip to Kentucky Distilleries? Maybe you would like to live the bourbon life vicariously through us? If any of these are true, then check out BourbonObsessed.com today!
The post Wilderness Trail Small Batch Rye Review appeared first on Bourbon Obsessed℠ .
