Wildnerness Trail Bottled In Bond Rye Whiskey
Wildnerness Trail Bottled In Bond Rye Whiskey is a 100 proof (50% ABV), 750mL bottled-in-bond Kentucky rye from Wilderness Trail Distillery in Danville, Kentucky — which means a minimum of four years in a federally bonded warehouse, from a single distilling season, bottled by the distillery itself. The mash bill is deliberately balanced rather than rye-dominant: 56% rye, 33% corn, and 11% malted barley, with Kentucky-grown heritage rye from a local KY Proud farm. Founded in 2012 by fermentation experts Shane Baker and Dr. Pat Heist, the distillery runs a sweet-mash process — fresh ingredients every batch, no backset — with proprietary infusion mashing and copper column stills. It is available to order online at Del Mesa Liquor, San Diego, CA.
- ABV: 50% (100 proof — bottled in bond)
- Size: 750mL
- Mash bill: 56% rye / 33% corn / 11% malted barley; Kentucky-grown heritage rye
- Aging: minimum 4 years (BIB), single distilling season; barrel entry 100–105 proof into new #4 char 53-gallon oak
- Batch: small batch — 20 barrels or fewer; not chill filtered
- Process: sweet mash, proprietary infusion mashing, copper column stills
- Distillery: Wilderness Trail, Danville, KY — founded 2012 by Shane Baker & Dr. Pat Heist
Bonded Rye Built on Fermentation Science
Baker and Heist came to whiskey through fermentation — and the rye shows it. The lower-rye mash bill is intentional: rye spice kept in harness so brown sugar, butterscotch, and citrus can lead. Retailer notes describe butterscotch, maple, mint, and orange peel on the nose; orange zest, brown sugar, clove, and honey-lemon on the palate; and black pepper, pumpernickel, and barrel spice on the finish (retailer-sourced). The low barrel-entry proof and #4 char oak give it depth without heat, and the bottled-in-bond designation guarantees exactly what it is. Browse more rye whiskey and explore the Wilderness Trail collection at Del Mesa Liquor.
Tasting Notes
Nose: Butterscotch, maple, mint, and orange peel (retailer-sourced).
Palate: Orange zest, brown sugar, clove, honey-lemon, caramel, and rye bread.
Finish: Black pepper, pumpernickel, barrel spice, and lingering citrus.
How to Enjoy
Neat or with a single cube — 100 proof has presence without demanding water. It makes a precise Sazerac or an Old Fashioned where the brown-sugar side does the work.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does "bottled in bond" mean?
A US legal designation: 100 proof, aged at least 4 years in a federally bonded warehouse, from one distilling season, bottled by one distillery.
What is the mash bill?
56% rye, 33% corn, 11% malted barley — a deliberately balanced recipe using Kentucky-grown heritage rye.
Is there an age statement?
No — the core release is non-age-stated; the bonded designation guarantees a minimum of four years.
Who founded Wilderness Trail?
Fermentation experts Shane Baker and Dr. Pat Heist in Danville, Kentucky, in 2012.
Note: the product title currently reads "Wildnerness Trail" — flagged for Laurence's correction; the distillery is Wilderness Trail.
Bonded, small-batch, and fermentation-first — order Wildnerness Trail Bottled In Bond Rye Whiskey online from Del Mesa Liquor in San Diego, CA.