Review #188 Wilderness Trail Settlers Select Rye
Distillery: Wilderness Trail Distillery
Proof: 111
Age: 4 years 5 months
Mashbill: 56% KY heritage Rye, 33% corn, % 11% malted barley
BACKGROUND: Wilderness Trail Settlers Select Rye is a delicious cask strength rye made with a sweet mash and charred in #4 charred barrels. One of the things that sets this single barrel aside is how low the proof is when entering the barrel, coming in at around 100 proof, but coming out at 111 loaded with spicy hot rickhouse flavors.
NOSE: As you raise the glass to your nose, the first thing that really jumps out is the dark rye flavors mixed with a smokey oak and black cracked pepper. As you adjust to the spice sweet notes of vanilla, caramel, and honey some to play. (23/25)
PALATE: An absolute caramel bomb goes off on your tongue coating your mouth with an unexpected, delightful, coating of caramelized sugar, brown sugar, candy apple, and honey. The pack end of the palate has yout more traditional rye spice and charred oak. (33/40)
FINISH: The finish is a bit dry compared to the exuberant palate leaving you with a fading sweet spiced oak that comes in and out with traces of caramel leaving you wanting more. (22/25)
VALUE: For $60 this is a terrific rye. Loaded with traditional rye flavors, but also packed with the sweet and smoothness of an expensive bourbon (7/10)
Overall: 85/100
FINAL THOUGHTS: An absolutely delicious rye, the caramel controls the palate but meshes very well with the oaky spice. If you like mild sweet whiskey that has a kick, this is the bottle for you.
Slightly Better Whiskey: WT Rare Breed Rye
Equal Whiskey: Angel's Envy Rye
Slightly Worse Whiskey: Bulleit Rye
Tell us what you think and give us some feedback!
Scoring Legend:
96-100: The perfect dram, juice of the gods
90-95: Near perfect, truly incredible whiskey
85-89: Amazing whiskey, will always try to keep a backup bottle of this
80-84: Very good, some minor flaws here or there
75-79: Good, quite enjoyable to drink, Will try and keep a bottle on the shelf
70-74: Solid, wouldn’t go out of my way to get this
60-69: Decent, would offer this up to non whiskey drinkers
50-59: Not my cup of tea
Below 50: Give away
