The Still & The VineSchool of Wine & Spirits
Wilderness Trail Bottled in Bond Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey (High Rye)
Bourbon

Wilderness Trail Bottled in Bond Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey (High Rye)

Wilderness Trail · Wilderness Trail Distillery

100 proof4-YearDanville, Kentucky, USA
Wilderness Trail's fermentation science background shows in the grain-forward clarity of this bourbon. The high-rye mash bill provides structure and spice, while the bottled-in-bond proof lets the barrel's heat signature come through without overwhelming. A serious craft bourbon punching well above its price.

Kit Aromas

Tasting Notes

Nose

Opens with a rush of caramel corn and toasted pecans, followed by a thread of orange zest and dried carnation. Beneath it, a subtle char note anchors everything to the barrel.

Palate

Rye spice asserts itself immediately, joined by butterscotch that melts into charred oak and baking spice. The mid-palate delivers a surprising burst of cherry and a faint leathery dryness that keeps things balanced.

Finish

Medium-long, with brown spices and a lingering vanilla sweetness that fades into warm oak tannin.

Specifications
Mash Bill
64% Corn, 24% Rye, 12% Malted Barley
Barrel Type
New charred American oak (Level 4 char)
Bottled in Bond
Yes
Single Barrel
No
Wheated
No
Serve & Pair

Cocktail Suggestion

Bluegrass Ember — 2 oz Wilderness Trail BiB · 0.75 oz honey syrup · 0.5 oz fresh lemon juice · 2 dashes Angostura bitters · Shake with ice, strain into a coupe, garnish with a lemon twist.

Food Pairing

Smoked pork belly sliders with pickled red onion

The Story

Founded by Dr. Pat Heist and Shane Baker in Danville, Kentucky, Wilderness Trail started as a fermentation science consultancy before building their own distillery to prove that better yeast and fermentation produce better whiskey.

Train These Aromas
Comments

Be the first to comment.

Leave a comment

0 / 4,000

First-time comments are reviewed before appearing. Be kind, be specific, no spam.

More from Wilderness Trail Distillery
Dingle Single Malt Cask Strength Batch No. 5 Irish Whiskey
Irish Whiskey

Dingle Single Malt Cask Strength Batch No. 5 Irish Whiskey

Dingle

Dingle's cask-strength releases showcase what happens when a small distillery refuses to rush. The heat here is real—58.2% ABV—but it is productive heat, pushing out flavors that a lower proof would hide. This is a whiskey that demands water and rewards patience, revealing new layers over the course of 30 minutes in the glass.

116.4 proof
Ardmore 12 Year Old Port Wood Finish Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Scotch Whisky

Ardmore 12 Year Old Port Wood Finish Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky

Ardmore

Ardmore often goes overlooked among Highland malts, but this 12-year-old demonstrates why peat works differently north of the Highland Line. The port wood finishing adds depth without obscuring the distillery's signature lightly peated character. At 46% and non-chill-filtered, it has the weight and texture to reward patient sipping.

92 proof
Fuenteseca Cosecha 2020 Blanco
Tequila

Fuenteseca Cosecha 2020 Blanco

Fuenteseca

Enrique Fonseca's Cosecha series is built on the idea that agave harvested in a specific year has a unique terroir signature worth preserving. The 2020 Cosecha is bright and precise, showcasing how slow-roasted highland agave can produce a blanco of uncommon depth. No additives, no shortcuts—just agave, time, and fire.

86 proof
Worthy Park Single Estate 2012 Vintage Jamaican Rum
Rum

Worthy Park Single Estate 2012 Vintage Jamaican Rum

Worthy Park

The 2012 vintage from Worthy Park shows what a decade of tropical aging does to Jamaican pot still rum—it concentrates and civilizes the distillery's naturally funky spirit without taming it completely. The cask strength bottling is unapologetically intense, but a splash of water opens it beautifully. This is serious sipping rum for enthusiasts who appreciate the Jamaican style.

114 proof
More Bourbon Reviews