Wilderness Trail Settlers Select Single Barrel Barrel Proof Rye

116 proof single barrel. Nose is honey lemon with a little alcohol heat coming through. I didn't really pick up much rye spice, which is surprising with this being 56% rye. Palate is the star of this show. Creamy and mildly sweet. I get orange, chocolate, and hints of vanilla. Smooth, creamy mouth feel. There is rye spice that lingers in the background and is light but well balanced with the other flavors. Finish is fast to medium and betrays its proof. More orange, with hints of rye and char and just enough heat going down to make you happy. Later I tried this on a rock, and it tasted like a dreamsicle.

So far I've only seen private barrels of this that have been selected by some of the larger chains in the area. There doesn't seem to be a standard release. This particular barrel is 110 proof, NAS, non-chill-filtered and distilled using sweet mash process (like all of Wilderness Trail's whiskey). Appearance is a light burnished copper. Swirling produces thick legs. Nose is pleasant - some sweet, kettle-corn type notes, faint baking spices, and also greener rye notes. Reminscent of other KY ryes with corn in the mashbill, which I like. The rye notes are more grassy than minty. Not much ethanol/heat for a cask strength whiskey. On the palate, bold rye flavors lead up-front with menthol, green apple, grassy notes, some pepper and baking spice. There's some sweetness on the mid-palate that lingers into the finish, along with a hint of that musty, wet-cardboard note that I often find in young/craft bourbons. All in all not bad, but the musty note on the back-palate puts a damper on things for me. It's not overpowering, but it's definitely there. Maybe this needs a little more age, I don't know. Or maybe it was just this barrel. Regardless, there are plenty of other rye's for the same or less money that I'd rather have (Willett 4yr, Russell's SiB, Pikesville, Rare Breed, and Knob Creek SiB to name a few).

GNS Store Pick: This is some great stuff. Super approachable, dangerously drinkable. Lots of green apple, it’s like a slice of apple pie with brown sugar crumble on top, caramel, so good. Worth it considering the age statement(4.5 yrs, so young for the quality). Should be noted, this is not 48.3%, this pick is 55%, 110 proof.

I get hit with ethanol in the nose. Maybe a little sweetness, like rose petals, as it mellows. The palate is robust with a heat that builds through the finish. For only 3 years 11 months of age, this is fantastic!

Wow!!! Nose is mint and rye. Spice will grab your pallet but releases you to mint with a sweetness finish. Almost got a bubble gum type finish off a full sip but could have been a fluke.

Local Kroger store pick- Caramel notes Pairs beautifully with country ham

Nose: nutty and caramel and cherries, just wonderful Palate: super sweet vanilla up front. some burn in a good way, mild bitterness on the way down, finish lingers a bit