Shane Baker and Pat Heist were already well known in the industry through Ferm Solutions, where they spent years helping other distilleries with fermentation and process design. Their work shaped a lot of American whiskey, even though their names rarely showed up on bottles. If something was going wrong in fermentation, they were often the people called in to fix it.
When they decided to open their own distillery in 2012, they didn’t abandon that background. The same attention to fermentation, water chemistry, and yeast selection carried over, and it shows most clearly in their rye.
Rye can be difficult to handle. It’s naturally spicy and easy to push too far. Rather than trying to make it bigger or louder, Wilderness Trail focused on keeping it controlled. Danville’s limestone-rich water plays a role, as do longer fermentations and yeast strains chosen to keep the flavors balanced. The idea was not to soften rye’s character, but to keep it from becoming harsh.
Rye, Refined
Many rye whiskeys lead with intensity. The spice comes on fast, followed by heat, and everything else has to catch up. Wilderness Trail Rye takes a slower approach.
The mash bill is rye-forward, but malted barley helps keep the profile grounded. The spice is present, but it doesn’t overwhelm. Black pepper and baking spice are joined by citrus peel, honey, and toasted grain. The flavors develop gradually instead of hitting all at once.
Nothing feels rushed, and nothing feels pushed beyond where it should be.
The Tasting Experience
On the nose, there are notes of cracked pepper, orange zest, fresh herbs, and a light caramel sweetness. The rye brings brightness, but oak and gentle sugar notes help round it out.
The palate follows with rye bread, spiced honey, and clove, followed by vanilla, dried fruit, and toasted oak. The lower barrel-entry proof keeps the mouthfeel smooth and cohesive, with no sharp spikes of heat.
The finish is steady and clean. The spice fades slowly, leaving behind light tannin and hints of citrus and baking spice. It lingers just long enough to stay interesting.
In Cocktails and Context
Neat, Wilderness Trail Rye is calm and balanced. It doesn’t punch you in the nose with everything at once, but layers the experience.
In cocktails, it works the way a good rye should. In a Manhattan, it provides structure and keeps the drink from becoming too sweet. In an Old Fashioned, the spice and citrus notes come through without overpowering the rest of the build.
It’s the best of both worlds.
Why It Matters
Wilderness Trail Rye isn’t trying to reinvent rye whiskey or rely on nostalgia. What it shows instead is what careful fermentation and thoughtful process can do when they’re applied with restraint.
For experienced rye drinkers, it offers balance without losing character. For those new to whiskey in general or rye in particular, it’s approachable without being boring or bland. It’s a whiskey that reflects the craftsmen behind it, not just the result in the glass.