Wilderness Trail co-founder Pat Heist (aka “Dr. Pat”) is known for being partial to wheated bourbon. Likewise, when I visited the distillery in 2021, I was most won over by their wheated bourbon, which remains a personal favorite. However, arguably the most celebrated whiskeys produced by the Danville-based brand are the ryes. After trying a handful over the past couple of years, it’s easy to see why. The profile often strikes a welcome balance by providing classic rye notes in a more rounded out manner.

The team behind Wilderness Trail also isn’t one to let a good opportunity slip by, which is why they announced a 7-year bottled in bond rye whiskey release in early 2023. Where earlier whiskey runs came from the distillery’s former pot still, this release came from the newer copper column still. After aging, Wilderness Trail selected 15 barrels to batch, proof, and bottle for this gift shop-exclusive release. Let’s see how it holds up.

Nose: Cilantro, Light Brown Sugar, Key Lime Pie, Cinnamon Butter

Floury, Soft, Mellow

Palate: Cilantro, Brown Butter, Banana Cream, Lime Zest

Medium, Mild Spice, Creamy

Finish: Black Pepper, Hazelnut, Columbian Coffee, Dried Lemon

Balanced, Creamy, Dry

My initial impressions of Wilderness Trail’s rye effectively ring back for this whiskey. What I’ve found most intriguing is how rye-forward the flavor profile is while maintaining a generally mellow personality. To that end, I’d say the most adjacent rye whiskeys I’ve tried are Michter’s and Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel, two of my favorites. I’m also happy to report that despite the pour’s rounded off nature, it never turns into a bore. Instead, the subtleties slowly unravel over time, wrapping up in a moderate finish that avoids overstaying its welcome.