This is the uncut version of Wilderness Trail's rye, drawn from a single barrel and bottled at the strength it came out at rather than proofed down. The barrel number is printed on the front label, 16C21L, and this one landed at 55 percent alcohol by volume, 110 proof. Another barrel will give a different figure, which is the entire point of a single barrel programme. Wilderness Trail was founded in Danville, Kentucky in 2013 by two fermentation scientists who had spent a decade consulting for much of the American whiskey industry, and the production decisions reflect that background. The distillery uses sweet mash rather than the sour mash almost universal in Kentucky, starting each fermentation fresh rather than carrying backset forward, which demands considerably more sanitation discipline but produces a cleaner spirit. More unusually, the whiskey enters the barrel at 100 to 105 proof, among the lowest entry proofs in the state where 125 is standard. More water in the barrel changes the extraction, drawing more sugar and less tannin from the wood, and it means the gap between entry and bottling strength here is small. The mashbill is 56 percent rye, 33 percent corn and 11 percent malted barley using Kentucky grown heritage rye, which is deliberately low in rye for the category and offsets the grain's spice with corn sweetness. At barrel proof that balance still holds but everything is concentrated. Expect sweet baking spice, oak and dark fruit, then clove and white pepper opening into candied flowers, spearmint and Earl Grey tea, finishing long and floral. Drink it neat, then add water.
ABV / Proof
| ABV |
55% |
| Proof |
110 |
| Size |
750ml |
| Country |
United States |
| Region |
Danville, Kentucky |
| Category |
Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey |
| Expression |
Settlers Select, Single Barrel, Barrel Proof |
| Barrel Number |
16C21L |
| Mashbill |
56% rye, 33% corn, 11% malted barley |
| Fermentation |
Sweet mash |
| Barrel Entry Proof |
100 to 105 |
| Maturation |
New air dried #4 char 53 gallon barrels, upper rickhouse floors |
| Age |
No age statement |
| Filtration |
Unfiltered |
| DSP |
DSP-KY-20005 |
| Distillery |
Wilderness Trail Distillery, founded 2013 |
Tasting Notes
Color: Rich unfiltered deep amber.
Nose: Sweet baking spices over oak and dark fruits, concentrated at full strength.
Palate: Clove and white pepper giving way to a herbaceous bouquet, with candied flowers, spearmint and Earl Grey tea carried on a fuller body than the bonded version.
Finish: Long and succulent, closing on florals, spearmint sweetness and a warming oak grip.
FAQ
What proof is this bottle? This barrel is 110 proof, or 55 percent alcohol by volume. Because it is a single barrel bottled at barrel proof, other barrels will carry different strengths.
What is the barrel number? 16C21L, printed on the front label. Every bottle from this release identifies the specific barrel it came from.
How does it differ from the bottled in bond rye? Same mashbill and same distillery, but the bonded version is a small batch bottled at exactly 100 proof as the bond standard requires. This is a single barrel bottled at whatever strength the barrel gave, so it is stronger, more concentrated and varies bottle to bottle.
What is sweet mash? Each fermentation starts fresh rather than using backset from the previous batch. Wilderness Trail was the first Kentucky distillery to adopt it, and it requires far more rigorous sanitation.
Why does low barrel entry proof matter? The whiskey enters the barrel at 100 to 105 proof where 125 is typical in Kentucky. More water in the barrel changes what the spirit draws from the wood, pulling more sugars and less tannin.
Where can I buy Wilderness Trail Settlers Select Single Barrel Rye online? Available here at Liquor On Broadway while stock lasts, with fast insured shipping nationwide.
