Wilderness Trail Family Reserve Single Barrel Cask Strength Bourbon (Wheated Bourbon)

I’ve been meaning to try Wilderness Trail for a while now. It’s a relatively new distillery, in KY, and unlike other upstarts, they actually waited 4 years to place their first bottle as a BiB. You have to hand it to them waiting 4 years, especially considering the immense startup costs in building a new distillery. And thanks to my buddy @dubz480 for sending over a generous pour to try. This is a 114 proof..I couldn’t even find that listing here, so I’m guessing @dubz480 got his hands on a special store pick. I had this sample on my desk since Monday. Been periodically nosing it all week. The aroma is amazing...marshmallows and vanilla, with a side of oak. I can just smell the aromas without drinking it, and be fully content. The palette for me was a step down though...not for anything else, but it was simply too hot at 114. I had to add ice, but then that muted the amazing aroma. So, net/net...I screwed up by adding too large an ice. With proof that high, I have a hard time balancing to get it just right. Either way, I need to try the BiB 100proof version of this, which I’m guessing will be less hot. Thanks @dubz480 for the pour!

21 Degrees Cigar Bar store pick Scottsdale, AZ. Barrel # 15G29-17, 115 proof. Healthy aroma of peanut, cashew, cola, black cherry, barrel spices, char, and ethanol but the ethanol is mild and more of an undertone. Palate matches the nose precisely with cashew nut being the dominant flavor, but for the sake of not being repetitive simply see above for tasting notes. Flavors are full and rich and being a fan of nutty bourbons I did find the palate enjoyable. Nose is good, palate is good, so far so good, right? Sadly, the finish goes totally and completely of the rails. Harsh and abrasive, with charcoal briquette and astringent oak in full effect. Even the enjoyable nut from the palate turns to a bitter almond. It’s decently long, but given the characteristics it’s more of a bug than a feature. Perceivable Kentucky Hug. Mouthfeel is grainy as sandpaper, which does NOT help at all. Given that I am a fan of the 100 proof small batch I wanted to like this more than I did. I wanted greatness. I did not get greatness. At $57, it’s far from a rebuy for me. Not sure to blame the taster or the distillery, but this was ultimately a disappointment.

Liquor Lineup Store Pick ABV - 56% Proof - 112 Age - 4 year, 9 months Rickhouse - A-N14-D9 Barrel - ISC #4 char Barrel # - 17A10-9 Yeast Strain: FermPro 1 DSP-KY-20005 Smell: Grain sugar and caramel greet with char and dry earth undertones. Vanilla bread fills the cracks. Taste: barrel char with kitchen spices. Candy sweet sits in the front of the palate. Finish: lingering char and overall woody notes remain up to the next sip. Medium viscosity that coats the top palate and tounge well. There is an overall brightness to this sip with some “farm”. Very enjoyable. I wonder what would happen with a bit more time in the barrel.

The nose starts with creamy oak, vanilla, cherry syrup, smoke, leather rounded out by earthy rye spice. The nose is very full and rich, giving you endless notes of flavor you hope to soon explore. The palate is rich of dark chocolate, vanilla, and oak. This is delectably rich, presenting itself as a dessert more than anything The spice isn't as strong as it expect, adding to the uniqueness of this whiskey. The finish is medium and creamy with lingering spicy notes of oak and pepper.

(This single barrel is 15E22 from Forecastle Festival in Louisville, KY on 7/12-14/19) Proofed at 111, this is ridiculously smooth for that octane. At 49 months old, this provides a lot of flavor similar to what you would expect from a wheater. It’s soft and spicy, imagine going into a bakery and enjoying the smells. Now liquify that and taste it. Glad I revisited Wilderness Trail, this is a good one!

113.9 proof. Glass: Glencairn, rested 15 minutes. Color: Medium amber. Nose: Caramel, apples, vanilla. A bit of oak. Palate: Cinnamon red hots and baking spice. Finish: Medium heat but long length. Splash: No new flavors are revealed. Overall: 6.5/10 - Another fine dram, but not one that stands out in any way. The higher proof makes me want to try it in a cocktail.