Wilderness Trail Settlers Select Single Barrel Barrel Proof Rye

As I can't thread posts on this platform, I'll note this is part of a series about tours at Bulleit, Wilderness Trail, and James E. Pepper distilleries. Moving from their wheat-heavy option to their high-rye option, and now to this, I observe a distinct progression. It's quite unusual for a rye. The standout element is their butterscotch flavor, which I haven't encountered in any other rye. The taste echoes the toffee and butterscotch notes, introducing oak, black pepper, and a subtle rye warmth. The pronounced sweetness likely stems, at least partly, from the sweet mash technique. Personally, I tend to favor sour mash for its characteristic acidic tang, but to each their own. The texture is medium to full. If you're seeking a truly distinctive rye without overwhelming spice, this is it. However, if you prefer more heat and spice, or favor ryes with 95-100% herbal content, this isn't for you. I could discuss age and lament its youth, but I'd eagerly spend money on a 6-7 year version of this if the spice notes intensified. Among their current selections, their 24% rye mash bill, 4-year Bottled-in-Bond bourbon appears to be my personal favorite. Your preference might differ, and if you have $50-75 to spend, I recommend exploring their range, as I admire their work. If budget is a concern, I'd suggest waiting on anything other than the 4-year 24% rye if you enjoy butterscotch/toffee, as it's rather pricey due to investments in new facilities. Next, I'll be reviewing James E. MGPepper...

Aroma - a nice balance of rye and oak. I detect a slight dark fruit note, caramel, and apple. Hints of hay. It's solid but unremarkable. Taste - a bit confusing. The initial sip is unique, bringing rye and cherries to mind. Subsequent sips reveal spearmint and caramel, with subtle herbal notes. The heat is a bit pronounced. Most would likely prefer it with ice to mellow it. Overall - this is barrel strength, and the price point is typical for that. However, frankly, it's significantly overpriced based on flavor alone. I'd estimate $15-20 at most. I dislike being negative about a new distillery, but this bottle doesn't justify its cost. There are simply too many superior options in this price range. Rare Breed Rye or Willet 4 year are vastly better. Even Redwood Empire Lost Monarch, which costs around $30, is far superior.

This is Barrel 16B21U, bottled at 51.5% ABV (103 proof). It has a copper color. The nose presents bubble gum, allspice, ground cinnamon, honey, a subtle anise, and green tea. The mouthfeel is medium-bodied and intense. The palate features buckwheat honey, nutmeg, rye grass, spearmint leaf, cumin seed, and anise. The finish is lengthy and dry, with notes of raw cinnamon stick, freshly cut grass, and anise. It compares well to a Willett 4yr, though it has slightly too much anise for my taste. Note: I blended this 50/50 with the Wilderness Trail single barrel BiB bourbon, and it was excellent. The bourbon seemed to temper the rye's spice, particularly the anise, while enhancing the baking spices and amplifying the bourbon's sweetness.

DSP-KY-20005 Barrel No: 17E24-2 ABV: 52.5% Proof: 105 Age: 4 years 5 months Barrel: ISC #4 Char Rickhouse location: A-N1-F8 Yeast Strain: FemPro 1 Liquor Lineup store pick Nose: cinnamon, spice, honey, and brown sugar are prominent, with herbs and leather mingling. Damp bark appears with air and time. Graham crackers come to mind. Taste: spicy entry with cooking herbs and cinnamon. Finish: medium thickness and a long herbal and tea finish. This was the first pour from the new bottle, which had been decanted for 20 minutes before the review. I'll need to revisit this. I was hoping for more oak to complement the spice. A fantastic bottle overall.

This was another entry in our recent rye whiskey tasting event. I purchased this along with several other expressions during our KBT trip this spring. Their high-rye and wheated bourbons were quite good. As a rye enthusiast, I had high expectations for this one, and it mostly lived up to them. The aroma is sweet, and the rye spice is noticeable on the palate, followed by a pleasant cinnamon 'red hot' candy flavor and a medium-length finish. However, I'm hopeful it will improve now that we've opened it. It's quite good as is, but as I mentioned, I had high hopes...

This bottling, chosen by a Michigan establishment, offers a flavor profile that is bright, expressive, deep, and complex. Hints of mint mingle with sweet spice and a fruity candy note. The aroma, however, is off-putting, resembling vomit. If not for the scent, this would be highly recommended.