Wilderness Trail Family Reserve Single Barrel Cask Strength Bourbon (High Rye Bourbon)

Location: Star Liquor - 701 E Mohave St, Phoenix, AZ 85034. Aged 5 years and 2 months in ISC barrel #753152, located in Rickhouse B-E15-M10, using Yeast Strain 921, at 106.18 proof. Nose: Very clean, almost like Pine-Sol without the chemicals, but pleasant. Earthy rye balanced by brown sugar and fruit. Palate: Immediate rye spice, but mellow and almost sweet compared to a typical rye. Cracked black pepper and burnt brown sugar notes complement each other. Finish: A nice mix of rye spice and bread fades into charred oak. While the finish is a weaker aspect, it's still enjoyable. Thoughts: This was one of my initial Wilderness Trail experiences and my first bottle to own. I have no regrets about this store selection and will seek it out again.

A pleasant, floral sweetness is the first impression, like waking up in a tent. It evokes campfire flapjacks and fresh air. The nose has notes of honey, maple syrup, and a slight oaky char. The palate starts with a barely noticeable pepper bite, then unfolds into pancakes and buttery honey, with just the right amount of warmth and a very long finish. Hints of peppermint and anise appear before the honey and soft floral taste return. This is outstanding. It's a pleasure to experience such a well-balanced, high-proof bourbon. You wouldn't guess its proof from the initial taste, but its complexity reveals it. A true treat.

Smell: vanilla, toasted marshmallows, corn Taste: some ethanol but that quickly fades to mint, hints of maple syrup and more vanilla Finish: medium, but that’s more due to the ethanol proof and not the complexity of flavors The 2018 Wilderness Trail bottled in bond was great. It was akin to Makers 46. This single barrel pick (Liquor Barn, 2019, #4 char, Rickhouse B W0107, yeast strain FermPro-1) is lackluster compared to last years BiB release. Will revisit.

Definitely part of the Wilderness Trail family. Familiar sweet nose with a balanced palette, slightly spicy, but full of fruit and vanilla. A bit easier to drink than some higher-proof/barrel strength offerings. Opens up as ice block melts. Enjoying it, but not sure it is much better than the standard small batch which is quite a bit cheaper and one of my favorites.

The aroma is quite appealing with good fruity notes that complement the oak and deeply sweet characteristics, giving it an elegant dessert profile; The palate is sweet and bready, yet intensely interesting with its presentation of a dessert bar meeting a rustic experience; The finish becomes fruitier as it progresses – delving into a caramelized banana flavor before fading away.

Nose- cherry pie, spearmint, fresh cut grass and bubblegum Taste- fun and complex. Nuttiness up front, salted caramel, toffee and rye bread on the back end Finish- long. Bready notes with cinnamon spice and black licorice. Nice mouthfeel Nicely complex blend of classic bourbon and rye notes.