"This lovely cask is a resonant beauty that will appeal to almost anyone. I mean it sincerely – if you don't find something to love in this cask, then whiskey just isn't your thing." - Andrew Kitz, B-21 Spirits Buyer
We love it when a single cask holds so true to the distillery's identity, and this classic "wheater" from Wilderness Trail does all that, and then some. To start, the mashbill is what put Wilderness Trail on the map in the first place. Their signature recipe includes 24% wheat, which is the highest propotion you'll find anywhere in the Bluegrass State. They also utilize only fresh ingredients, never adding any backset (spent grains from a previous mash), which results in a pristine "sweet mash" style that is the hallmark of the distillery.
Then, in a marriage made in whiskey heaven, this exceptional distillate was aged in a top-quality ISC Classic #4 char barrel, the characteristics of which lend themselves perfectly to the Wilderness Trail Wheated profile. The #4 char level imparts gorgeous sweetness to an already opulent profile, but somehow the whiskey never loses its balance, thanks to spirit's medium body and the barrel's pure, refined tannins. "A charmer through and through" as described by B-21 Spirits buyer Andrew Kitz, it's a beautifully textured specimen that seems tailor-made for your favorite bourbon cocktail. If you've ever wondered what the wheated bourbon style is all about, this single cask is exhibit A for why the category is a hot ticket among bourbon insiders.
At 5 years and 6 months in barrel, this classic “wheater” from Wilderness Trail is a charmer through and through. Where its sister cask is a bold, spice-driven bruiser, this lovely cask is a resonant beauty that will appeal to almost anyone. I mean it sincerely – if you don’t find something to love in this cask, then whiskey just isn’t your thing. The first pour is jam-packed with ripe red fruit aromas as Bing cherry, raspberry, and candied red apple jump forth with little to no coaxing. The background offers toasty barrel notes that are totally pure and approachable, like the staple ingredients in a world-class baker’s spice cabinet. After some time in the glass, secondary notes of bay laurel and mint play against chocolate chip cookie dough. The subtle heat on the nose blows off quickly as the first sip reveals cooked red fruit compote on evenly textured barrel tannins that provide superb balance to the opulent flavors. Those toasty baking spices show up on the medium-weight mid-palate, where the crunchy edges usher in a finish with a little green peppercorn, toasted herbs, and dried mint adding intrigue. It’s a remarkable balanced effort from a Kentucky standout that does full justice to the wheated style and shows why it’s a favorite among bourbon connoisseurs in the know.
92 points, Andrew Kitz, B-21 Spirits Buyer (Apr 2025)
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