Fafnir187
Wilderness Trail Family Reserve Single Barrel Cask Strength Bourbon (Wheated Bourbon)
Bourbon — Kentucky, USA
Reviewed
May 13, 2021 (edited July 22, 2022)
21 Degrees Cigar Bar store pick Scottsdale, AZ. Barrel # 15G29-17, 115 proof.
Healthy aroma of peanut, cashew, cola, black cherry, barrel spices, char, and ethanol but the ethanol is mild and more of an undertone.
Palate matches the nose precisely with cashew nut being the dominant flavor, but for the sake of not being repetitive simply see above for tasting notes. Flavors are full and rich and being a fan of nutty bourbons I did find the palate enjoyable.
Nose is good, palate is good, so far so good, right? Sadly, the finish goes totally and completely of the rails. Harsh and abrasive, with charcoal briquette and astringent oak in full effect. Even the enjoyable nut from the palate turns to a bitter almond. It’s decently long, but given the characteristics it’s more of a bug than a feature. Perceivable Kentucky Hug.
Mouthfeel is grainy as sandpaper, which does NOT help at all.
Given that I am a fan of the 100 proof small batch I wanted to like this more than I did. I wanted greatness. I did not get greatness. At $57, it’s far from a rebuy for me. Not sure to blame the taster or the distillery, but this was ultimately a disappointment.
57.0
USD
per
Bottle
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Great review. I love these guys and so want them to succeed. B_O_L is dead on about the inconsistency in the wheater while the rye stands out especially after sitting open in the bottle. I am convinced that hey are gonna get where we all want.
@WhiskeyLonghorn oh to be that blender, what a dream come true! The sweet mash process probably makes the job more difficult... maybe a solera system... maybe I should drop the shovel and walk away
@Bourbon_Obsessed_Lexington they need a blender. This batch inconsistency is hurting their brand IMO. They make a good bourbon, it’s just that you roll the dice on whether you’re getting a bottle of it when you shell out $50 for one...
Their wheater seems to be all over the place. I think I’m going to stick to their rye for now and revisit this in a few more years when the kinks are worked out.