THERE’S NO SUCH THING AS A STUPID QUESTION

Wilderness Trail is a craft whiskey distillery in Danville, Kentucky, known for using modern science to optimize old-world distilling traditions. All Wilderness Trail whiskeys are distilled, aged, and bottled at our distillery. Our core whiskeys adhere to rigorous criteria to be considered “bottled in bond.” They’re all distilled in a single distilling season exclusively at the Wilderness Trail Distillery, aged at our state-of-the-art facility for a minimum of four years, and bottled at exactly 100 proof or 50% ABV.

Wilderness Trail founders Dr. Pat Heist and Shane Baker are fermentation experts with over 20 years of experience making whiskey. They’re consistently recognized across the industry as pioneers in engineering, research and development, fermentation, and distilling.

We make small-batch Kentucky Straight Wheated Bourbon, Kentucky Straight High Rye Bourbon, and Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey.

Wilderness Trail is a Kentucky-based distillery that uses modern science to optimize old-world distilling traditions. We craft specialty bourbon and rye whiskeys in small batches of 20 barrels or less.

We're among the first of Kentucky’s distillers to embrace the sweet mash process as our sole mashing technique. Sweet mash is more challenging to make, but ultimately affords us more control of our product from start to finish. With our level of expertise in fermentation science, we’re well-equipped for the task.

In our sweet mash fermentation process, each batch of our cooked grain is fermented with fresh yeast alone. Most bourbon distillers use a traditional sour mash system, in which cooked grain is fermented with yeast and backset. Backset is the spent mash byproduct from a previous distillation that helps to acidify the new mash.

Thanks to our modern know-how, high sanitation standards, and our founders' decades of expertise in fermentation science, we find it not only possible but beneficial to operate without the backset. By not acidifying the mash, we’re free from the limitations that come with sour mashing and have complete control of the profile from start to finish. The ultimate result is a softer, more grain-flavor-forward finish—the hallmark of all Wilderness Trail whiskeys.

We tap a robust network of farmers in Kentucky and beyond for our grains.

Our Private Barrel Program allows select customers to pick the ideal whiskey expression from our barrelhouse, personalized to their palate.

The program includes our single barrel selections, bottled at cask strength. Each cask averages 215 bottles per barrel, making this an ultra-exclusive opportunity to enjoy the best craft whiskey.

Wilderness Trail Distillery is the 18th stop on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail, and we love visitors. Our guides offer hour-long tours six times a day with a tasting at the end. Come check us out from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. Schedule your visit here.

As natives of Kentucky, Dr. Pat and Shane knew they wanted to pay homage to where they came from when naming their distillery. Danville is part of Kentucky’s Wilderness Trace District which sits on a historic part of the state, dating back to its founding by Daniel Boone.

Some more about the real Wilderness Trail: For centuries, Native Americans followed a game trail through the Cumberland Gap, calling it Athiamiowee, or “path of the armed ones.” Eventually, settlers and pioneers renamed it the Warrior’s Path. By 1775, a new path through the Gap into Kentucky was established, then replaced by a new wagon road in 1794. For over 50 years, this wagon road was used by settlers to reach Kentucky from the East. Over 200,000 pioneers traveled the Wilderness Road, enduring severe hardships, including cold and hunger. In 1958, the National Park Service reopened the “Great Kentucky Road,” the original route through the gap to be used as an interpretive trail. Today, the Cumberland Gap is the center of a cluster of historic sites, reconstructed forts, and museums devoted to the interpretation of the migration of settlers through the Appalachian Mountains. The rugged mountain region itself is rich in musical, historical, and craft traditions.

Sustainability is top of mind throughout our production process, from the freight we use for getting grains to the workforce operating in the barrel houses.

We’re always looking for ways to minimize our footprint. For instance, we’ve adopted a high-pressure ultrafiltration sub-system, which helps cut our waste in half. By utilizing these modern techniques, Wilderness Trail uses a fraction of the energy and water other distilleries need to cook and process grains.

Wilderness Trail whiskeys are for discerning craft bourbon and rye enthusiasts looking for something new—like a whiskey that’s a little bit science, a little bit rock and roll.

Wilderness Trail whiskeys can be found at national retailers across the U.S. We plan to enter international markets soon as part of our integration into Campari Group’s American Whiskey portfolio.

We’re excited to continue sharing our current offerings with whiskey lovers across the country and look forward to building upon our core product lineup.