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This review of the 64% corn, 24% rye, and 12% malted barley Wilderness Trail Family Reserve Single Barrel Kentucky Straight Bourbon is long overdue. Now, I start with the mash bill because it's crucial to identifying the bourbon. If you are confused by the Wilderness Trail bourbon labels, that's OK; so am I. As a quick way of remembering their labeling convention, the black label is a high rye bourbon, and the yellow label is a wheated bourbon.
Rating: 75
| Nose |
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| Palate |
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| Finish |
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| Uniqueness |
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| Value |
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Ratings breakdown based on a 100 point scale.
- 90-100 Exceptional
- 80-89 Very Good
- 70-79 Average
- 60-69 Below Average
- 50-60 Drain Pour
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Detailed Tasting Notes
Nose Review - Rating: 75
Right from the beginning, I am getting a dominant rye spice on the nose of Wilderness Trail Family Reserve Single Barrel Bourbon. There is also a tad bit of caramel and some orange zest. Then it returned to the rye spice with a small amount of cinnamon. After taking a quick sip, I returned to the nose, and the oak became very strong, leaning more toward the young side. The woodiness from the taste reveals itself on the nose.
Palate Review - Rating: 79
The palate of Wilderness Trail Family Reserve Single Barrel Bourbon from the beginning is hot, spicy, and with notes of buttercream. The ethanol is more aggressive than it's 100-proof. The first sip is rough around the edges, but as you get deeper into the tasting experience, there's a reasonable amount of oiliness and creaminess. Sweet corn and a honey sweetness come out. Wilderness Trail Family Reserve Single Barrel Bourbon is an intriguing pour because this bourbon has some excellent characteristics, but then there are some unsavory traits.
Finish Review - Rating: 74
Unfortunately, the backend and the finish have a woody pine taste.
Uniqueness Review - Rating: 75
A very tradition bourbon profile.
Value Review - Rating: 73
A little pricey at the $69.99 price point.
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Smell IS taste. I am just a guy who has been hit with the bourbon bug and who has come to the conclusion that life is too short to drink average tasting bourbons. Go Gators!
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