Wilderness Trail Bottled in Bond Small Batch Bourbon (High Rye Bourbon)

This is part of a series about distillery visits, including Bulleit, Wilderness Trail, and James E. Pepper. Unlike their yellow label offering which lacked butterscotch, this bottling delivers those aromas from the mash bill. Their rye seems distinctive, possibly due to yeast, though they appear to purchase commercial yeast in bulk. The aroma is rich with toffee, bread pudding, butterscotch, and a hint of char. The taste mirrors the nose, with a medium body and a pleasant warmth. It's unique and funky, closely reflecting the mash at its young age. Touring the mash room before tasting this was enlightening. Time will tell how this distillate evolves, leading into their 6-year BiB offering.

I found this spirit to be enjoyable. The initial taste was surprising, which I'd describe as 'zesty' or even 'minty.' The zestiness was quickly followed by sharper spices like black pepper, clove, cinnamon, and a hint of red hots. The flavor profile warmed my palate, and the finish was warm but relatively brief. However, a subtle, soft warmth lingered well after the taste had faded. This is a BOURBON. I anticipate enjoying it again soon. Adding two drops of water to the glass significantly enhanced all the tasting notes, particularly the mint, spices, and red hots.

Many individuals seem to perceive different aromas and flavors from this bottle. For me, it aligns with the mash bill's description (which I appreciate being publicly available), offering classic bourbon notes of caramel and oak, with a distinct spicy rye bread character emerging on the palate. The taste is certainly good, but I didn't find anything exceptionally intriguing. Perhaps I've sampled too many finished expressions recently, but I anticipated a bit more complexity for the cost. Furthermore, while I'm not an expert bourbon drinker, I have enough experience to appreciate a robust proof. To me, this bottle feels slightly hot for 100 proof. I suspect it will improve with more air exposure.

This exhibits a rather standard bourbon flavor profile and shows significant youth. I've had superior young craft bourbons, and there are more widely available bourbons at less than half the price that are better. Wild Turkey 101, OF100, and even EWBiB surpass it. This craft bourbon fails to justify its price point above $12. I will note, however, that their rye, from the small sample I tried, was quite good; but this one is a miss for me. Update: A second tasting suggests this is actually slightly above average. I still maintain it's not superior to EWBiB, though.

Aroma: Caramel, brown sugar, with a touch of wood. Taste: Clove, pepper, peanuts, leather, and tobacco, accompanied by a general sweetness. Finish: Brief. While the nose of this bourbon is familiar, the palate offers a distinct experience. It possesses a sweetness, but it's not the typical caramel or vanilla. Instead, you encounter an herbal profile rich in spices like clove and pepper, along with wood-inspired notes. It's a solid choice for those who appreciate sweet oak and spices beyond cinnamon.

Nose: Butterscotch, with a slightly artificial sweet note, similar to cotton candy or a jelly bean. Palate: Difficult to discern specific notes... a bit bready. I suspect the sweetness I'm tasting is butterscotch, but it's primarily on the nose, so the palate's sweetness is indistinct. Finish: Initially not very hot, but the intensity increases after a few sips. Overall: Drinkable, but not something I'd rush to tell friends about. It's decent.