Wilderness Trail Distillery is a craft operation that was launched in 2012 in Bold Danville, Kentucky. Mixing old traditions with modern science, they aim to create fine bourbon and other spirits. Founded by Shane Baker and Pat Heist, a pair with over 20 years of experience with fermentation and alcohol production under their belts, they craft unique spirits using locally-grown grains. Their spirits are hand-crafted and they pride themselves on being "not interested in making the most, just the best." The founders were left with several yeast strains they had collected over the years in the industry and put them to good use in the distillery. The premium corn, wheat, and rye are sourced from the nearby Caverndale Farms and Walnut Grove Farms from Adairville, Kentucky, while their malted barley comes from Louisville. The natural Kentucky limestone springwater completes the 100% Kentucky list of ingredients. Their production methods include the proprietary Infusion Mashing Process, which together with their unique yeast strains results in a softer and uniquely flavorful distillate. They are the first Kentucky bourbon distillery to use a chemical-free clean steam boiler that minimizes off flavors. Instead of sour mash, they rely on a sweet mash, which enables more flavors to be extracted from the grains. They employ a hybrid pot still, as well as two continuous column stills. All the whiskey is distilled, aged, and bottled on-site. Wilderness Trail produces bourbon, rye whiskey, vodka, and bourbon barrel-aged rum. The Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey expression employs their sweet mash process and the spirit is barrelled at 100 and 105 proof. These numbers used to be higher, so the final proof of the bottles can vary. Crafted from a mash bill of 56% Kentucky-grown Heritage rye (from the local KY Proud farm), 33% corn, and 11% malted barley, the rye whiskey is then aged for a minimum of 4 years and up to 8 years in the upper floors of their rickhouses. 

Maker Notes

We selected barrel of the sweet, delicate 51% rye/ 45% corn/ 4% barley traditional straight rye and blended it with barrels of the big and bold 51% rye/ 49% malted barley straight rye. The end result is an upfront flavor profile that is beautifully sweet and rich with a luxurious mouthfeel. The finish has just enough cinnamon and rye spice to get your tongue tingling while the flavors from the malted barley, such as smoke and malt are still present, but softer and more subtle.

Maker Notes

As you drive up the west slope of the Sierra Nevada mountains from our Etrog orchards in Lindcove Ranch California into the Sequoia National Forest you pass through the lovely town of Three Rivers California where three forks of the Kaweah River converge – the Middle or Main Fork, the North Fork and the South Fork. As the crystal clear waters flow down out of the mountains and into the farmland of the San Joaquin Valley they echo the three elements that we bring together to create whiskey:  wood, water and grain. Three Rivers is  our own expression of what we love in a rye whiskey.   Our rye starts with an almost pure rye mashbill (93% American Rye), but with an extra “handful” of malted barley to get a smoother fermentation and get away from the sour, bitter notes common to many rye whiskeys.   The extra barley adds just enough amylase to create a rich grain forward rye mash.    We then age in new American oak, and work our magic on purifying and smoothing out the whiskey base.  We then step Three Rivers through a series of toasted and smoked oak.    The toasted oak pulls bitterness from the spirit, and lends it sweet, light brown sugar and caramel notes.  Then the deep charred oak smooths off an “rough edges” and adds dark chocolate, cocoa, coffee and maple/spice notes to the finished whiskey. Every bottle of CALI Distillery Three Rivers Rye is bottled as a single barrel expression, so each is a little different,  but every bottle is delicious, and not quite like any other rye whiskey you’ve tasted.

Maker Notes

Aged a minimum of 4 years, with floral notes, honeysuckle and apricot on the nose and spice and citrus on the palate. Finish is soft and smooth with tannins that bring out black pepper and wood spice. Best enjoyed on the rocks or served in a “Perfect” Manhattan straight up.

AWARDS & ACCOLADES
2019 - 92 rating, Ultimate Spirits Challenge
2019 - John Barleycorn Awards

Flavor Profile

Appearance: Aged Sienna.

Nose: Floral notes, honeysuckle, apricot, oiled leather, anise, and vanilla wafers.

Palate: Spice, citrus off the first taste followed by cinnamon bark, short bread.

Private Reserve is distilled using a 100% rye grain Prohibition-era bootlegger's recipe. It is aged in two used oak barrels for at least 18 months. It has won more awards than we can name.

Sextro Rye Red Label Cask Strength Whiskey is a meticulously crafted spirit that showcases the bold essence of rye in its purest form. Aged to enhance its rich character, this whiskey unfolds with layers of toasted oak, dark chocolate, and warm spices like cinnamon and clove, creating a symphony of flavors. The rye’s natural sweetness balances the robust spiciness, offering delicate notes of caramel and vanilla intertwined with a subtle earthiness. The whiskey's texture is velvety, leading to a long, lingering finish that exudes warmth and complexity. Ideal for savoring neat or with a splash of water, Sextro Rye Red Label is a whiskey for those who appreciate nuanced depth and rich flavor. Royal Batch provides an excellent platform for enthusiasts to discover this exceptional rye, offering an unparalleled drinking experience.

BLACKENED x Willett Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey was curated with an in-house marriage of Kentucky high rye and low rye recipes that were hand-selected by both Rob and Drew from Willett Distillery’s Family Estate Selection. The high rye whiskey offers spicier, more robust notes like fresh-cut hay and walnut, while the low rye features a slightly sweeter, earthier taste, such as cinnamon, mint and honey. Drew and Rob naturally gravitated towards these two recipes for a balanced flavor, smoothed out by the whiskey’s collective age statements and cask finishing. The oldest whiskey features an age statement of 8 years, while the average age of the bottling is 6 ½ years.

The whiskies are then married together and finished in Madeira Casks for up to 14 weeks, imparting subtle fruity notes, honey overtones and hints of raspberry. During that time, the whiskey undergoes the proprietary BLACK NOISE™ sonic enhancement process that uses the low hertz frequencies from Metallica’s music to vibrate the barrels, causing a greater interaction between the whiskey and the wood, forcing the liquid further into the barrel and extracting more flavor and color.

For the first release in the series, Rob Dietrich and Willett Distillery’s own Master Distiller, Drew Kulsveen, teamed up to create the BLACKENED X Willett Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey Finished in Madeira Casks.

TASTING NOTES

Sweet-simmered rhubarb and brown sugar butter, corn husk, vanilla bean, cigar box and ripe fig on the nose. A mouth-warming symmetry of buttery caramel & earthy mint on the palate, with a degree of raspberry sweetness from the Madeira cask-finish, balancing with the rustic notes of fresh cut hay from the high rye and rolling into a white pepper, cinnamon butter & walnut finish.

Milam & Greene Whiskey is made by some of the world’s most experienced whiskey professionals, including CEO, master blender, and author, Heather Greene and 30-year whiskey veteran and master distiller, Marlene Holmes. The Milam & Greene team distills in Blanco, Texas on copper pot stills as well as in Kentucky on classic column stills, using its proprietary yeast recipe and mash bill. Aging takes place in rickhouses located across four states in casks with an assortment of char levels for a variety of flavors resulting in the most thorough array of casks made and collected by any craft distiller. These casks become the ingredients from which its award-winning American whiskey range is batched to create perfection. Milam & Greene Whiskey believes in using the best people and ingredients to create delicious, award-winning whiskey for whiskey lovers.

STRAIGHT RYE WHISKEY FINISHED IN PORT WINE CASKS

Indiana Rye whiskey is brought to Texas where we batch it in our warehouse and finish it in old Port Wine Casks. The Texan sun influences the rate and strength of flavor imparted into the whiskey. Some casks take longer than others. The team tastes the whiskey finishing in the Port Wine Casks regularly until the optimal flavors are achieved. Casks are then batched together, tested regularly and proofed before bottling.

TASTING NOTES

Color: Ruby

Nose:  Cinnamon, chocolate, dark fruits such as

Palate: Rich, velvety for a 94 proof spirit

Finish: Long and warm

Discover the Exceptional Taste of Milam and Greene Straight Rye Whiskey Finished in Port Wine Casks! Indulge in Rich Flavors & Perfect Balance. Try It Today!

This distinguished straight rye whiskey is hand-crafted from rye and other grains which are 100% locally grown in New York State. Aged two to three years, this rye begins its journey in new American oak barrels and is then finished for at least one year in used Cabernet Sauvignon barrels.  Notably bottled at cask strength, this impressive rye is incredibly complex and compares favorably to even the most prestigious names in the category.  

2020 Gold – USA Spirits Ratings 96 points

2020 96 Points – The Tasting Panel

2019 Gold – John Barleycorn Awards

2018 Gold – NY World Wine & Spirits

2018 Gold Medal – Artisan Awards Competition

2018 Gold Rye Whiskey – 50 Best

This whiskey presents an aroma with hints of spice and subtle oak.  Its “high-rye” grain bill was selected for its warm flavor notes of pepper and spice & its long, lingering finish of caramel with a hint of cherry.

TASTING NOTES
This single-barrel, straight rye whiskey was selected for its "high rye" grain bill, delivering warm flavor notes of pepper and spice & a long, lingering finish of caramel with a hint of cherry.

AROMA: Subtle oak & spice

TASTE: Pepper & spice

FINISH: Lingering caramel with a hint of cherry

Round and bright, yet zesty and juicy, blood orange's dual personality blends effortlessly with the warm vanilla and spice undertones found only in the best American whiskey. A pairing so perfect you'll be sure to do a double-take!

AMERICA WAS FOUNDED THROUGH THE BLOOD OF HARD-FIGHTING, HARD-DRINKING MEN.

MEN WHO BELIEVED IN FREEDOM AND GOOD BOOZE WHO LAID DOWN THEIR LIVES, FORGING THE BEDROCK OF THIS REPUBLIC, AND IN DOING SO, CREATED A NEW SPECIES OF MAN: THE AMERICAN. AMERICANS CONQUERED THE WESTERN FRONTIER. MEN OF PISS AND VINEGAR WHO TAMED THE WILD, BATTLED THE ELEMENTS, AND ESTABLISHED THE FIRST AMERICAN SALOONS. IT’S IN THIS FINE TRADITION THAT MEMBERS OF THE VETERAN COMMUNITY PRESENT TO YOU: LEADSLINGERS’ WHISKEY.

THE LEADSLINGERS’ WHISKEY CONCEPT WAS FORGED IN THE WINTER OF 2013, BY THE MEMBERS OF THE EVER POPULAR ARTICLE 15 CLOTHING COMPANY.

BUILDING UPON THEIR DEEP DEDICATION TO BRING UNIQUE PRODUCTS TO THE VETERAN AND SECOND AMENDMENT COMMUNITIES, THE CALL TO MAKE A WHISKEY AS BOLD AS AMERICA WAS HEARD LIKE AN EAGLE’S SCREAM. THIS IS A STORY ABOUT SEIZING OPPORTUNITY WHEN LIFE THROWS IT AT YOU, WHILE NEVER FORGETTING WHERE YOU CAME FROM. THIS IS A STORY ABOUT MEN WHO PURSUE EXCELLENCE. IT’S ABOUT FREEDOM. IT’S ABOUT RAISING A GLASS TO TRADITION, BUT ALSO RAISING THE BAR OF PERFORMANCE. THIS IS THE STORY OF AMERICA, ENCAPSULATED IN THE STORY OF SEVEN MEN WITH A VISION.

LEADSLINGERS’ WHISKEY IS PRODUCED BY SEVEN COMBAT VETERANS, FROM THE US ARMY RANGERS, USAF TACP, SPECIAL FORCES, AND PARATROOPER COMMUNITIES. THEIR LOVE FOR AMERICA AND FINE WHISKEY, IS WHAT THE COMPANY IS ALL ABOUT. THEY WANTED TO CRAFT A WHISKEY THAT WAS ENJOYABLE AND UNREPENTANTLY SUPPORTED THE SECOND AMENDMENT. BY REMAINING ACTIVE IN THEIR CIVILIAN AND MILITARY COMMUNITIES, LEADSLINGERS’ STRIVES TO SET AN EXAMPLE. BE PROUD OF WHO YOU ARE. BE BOLD. NO APOLOGIES. 

AND THAT IS WHY LEADSLINGERS’ NAME IS DEVOTED TO THE SECOND AMENDMENT, AND ALL AMERICANS WHO EXERCISE IT. LIKE THOSE WHO STOOD AT LEXINGTON AND CONCORD AS THE BRITISH TRIED TO SEIZE THEIR ARMS AND SAID “NO!”—YOU UNDERSTAND THAT FREEDOM EXISTS AS LONG AS YOU’RE WILLING TO DEFEND IT. LIKE THE MEN WHO TAMED THE WEST, YOU UNDERSTAND THAT YOU AND YOU ALONE ARE MASTER OF YOUR FAITH. PURSUE HAPPINESS, AND TERMINATE ANY WHO THREATEN YOUR LIFE OR LIBERTY. LEADSLINGERS’ SALUTES YOU! AMERICA SALUTES YOU! NOW POUR A SHOT OF BOLDNESS FORGED IN THE MINDS OF BATTLE HARDENED PATRIOTS AND ENJOY!

LEADSLINGERS FIGHTING SPIRIT RYE

AS SPIRITS CONNOISSEURS OURSELVES, WE WANTED TO BRING A TOP-SHELF RYE WHISKEY TO MARKET FOR YOUR ENJOYMENT. AFTER CAREFUL CONSIDERATION AND PASSIONATE DISTILLATION PROCESS LEADSLINGERS SPIRITS IS EXTREMELY PROUD TO PRESENT ‘FIGHTING SPIRIT RYE’. MUCH LIKE THE ICONIC MARINE SO PROMINENTLY DISPLAYED ON THE FRONT OF OUR BOTTLE, WE FEEL THIS WILL BECOME A CORNERSTONE IN YOUR LIQUOR CATALOG FOR YEARS TO COME. BE A LEADER IN ALL THINGS, ESPECIALLY A TASTE FOR QUALITY.

It took over 70 years after the prohibition had ended for the distilling industry to return to New York City. New York had a flourishing distilling industry by the early 19th century, however things changed during the Civil War, when President Lincoln taxed spirits to fund the military. This resulted in many distilleries going underground before the end of the century. The fatal blow for the legal distilling industry in US came in 1920, when the Eighteenth Amendment came into effect making the production of alcohol illegal. It was only in the 21st century that small distilleries started resurging in New York. The New York Distilling Company, located in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, is one of the oldest distilleries in the city, and was founded in 2011 by Tom Potter, a co-founder of the Brooklyn Brewery, and Allen Katz, one of the nation's leading experts on distilled spirits and cocktails. The distillery specializes in gins and rye whiskeys and has been one of the pioneers of the city's distilling renaissance that builds upon the pre-prohibition heritage. Gin distilling in New York began in the 17th century, when Dutch settlers of New Amsterdam (as New York was then called) started making a version of the Dutch spirit genever. However, it wasn't until the early 19th century when the first commercial gin was produced in the US. Gin was a popular drink during the prohibition, as it was simple to make. American gin is a bit different from London and other European gins as a result of using other botanicals. The Ragtime Bottled in Bond Rye Whiskey features a 75% rye, 13% corn and 12% malted barley mash bill. In addition to meeting the Empire Rye standards, this bottled-in-bond edition of New York Distilling Company's flagship Ragtime Rye is also compliant with the strict Federal Bottled in Bond Regulations. This whiskey is matured in full-size barrels for a minimum of four years and is bottled at 50% ABV.

Distilled by MGP | Barrel #: 1022 | Age: 4+yrs

Tasting Notes:

Nose: Complex, caramel, baking spice, fresh baked rye bread, butter, toasted oak, honey, tangy citrus spice, sweet tea, black pepper

Taste: Bold w/ tangy orange zest, wildflower honey, rye spice, herbal tea, hints of spearmint and light oak

Finish: Lemon cookies, mild rye spice, and black tea

The Rossville Distillery opened its doors in 1847 in Lawrenceburg, Indiana, the then-upcoming rye whiskey capital of the world. Located near the Ohio River, the distillery had a beneficial position for trade, as well as an aquifer directly beneath it that provided limestone-filtered water. During their humble beginnings, a single blind horse was pulling the grist mill, capping the production at 2 barrels per week. But by the 20th century, the company had come a long way, capable of storing 60 thousand barrels at once. Rye whiskey was on the rise and the distillery was up to the challenge. The spirit was immensely popular before Prohibition and the old fashioned was created among other rye cocktails. Rossville Union was resurrected by MGP and continues the tradition at the historic 1847 distillery, focusing on masterfully-crafted rye whiskey. Their Master Crafted Straight Rye Whiskey expression is a testament to that. The smooth and slightly smoky spirit is aged at least 5 years new charred American oak barrels and bottled at 94 proof.

• Age: - 10 years old
• Bottled at 116.2 Proof
• Mash Bill: 95% Rye and 5% Malted Barley

Bottle Size: 750ml

100% IRISH RYE MASH

Introducing a new way to enjoy rye whiskey – the POWERS way. With a satisfyingly long finish, a sensational spice and a seriously balanced sweetness, this is a rye you need to try.

POWERS IRISH RYE is born from careful experimentation. Tested in the 1800s and perfected in the 2020s, timeless takes time, and our 100% Irish Rye mash is no exception. Balancing the peppery taste of rye with the sweetness from seasoned American oak cask maturation, this new POWERS expression brings real character, from a country not short on character itself.

Tasting Notes

Nose: Burnt orange, maraschino cherries, and toffee banana with rich warming notes of freshly baked rye bread, buttered croissants and charred oak. Robust spices of clove, white pepper and ginger are met with sweet vanilla and earthy sugar cane aromas.

Taste: Candied ginger with orange peel, clove spice and peppermint. Caramelized apples with brown sugar, sweet cereal and red liquorice notes build while the vanilla and charred oak influences work in balance with the rye signature spices.

Finish: Satisfyingly long, with a prickle of chili oil that continues to linger for a time in the company of honey glazed fruits and hardy cereal undertones.

Maker Notes

Our Straight Rye Whiskey pays homage to Kentucky Derby Black jockeys Isaac Murphy, Alonzo Clayton, Oliver Lewis, and Soup Perkins. These jockeys paved the way for future Black jockeys, who dominated the sport of horse racing from 1875 to 1903. However, as the Jim Crow laws and segregation began to grow, Black jockeys were not spared; often being denied licenses and facing physical harm. As a result, from 1921-2000, there were no Black riders in the Kentucky Derby. However the legacy of these black jockeys should not be forgotten. Old Hillside takes great pride in honoring the history of the Black jockeys. This rye offers a bold and complex taste of caramel, vanilla, mint and floral while finishes with a slight spice punch. Our light earthy notes complement the extra sweetness during the finish.

TASTING NOTES

COLOR: Dark amber

AROMA: Bold rye spice and floral notes

TASTE: Caramel, vanilla, mint

FINISH: Slight notes of nutmeg, cinnamon, and mint

AWARDS

DOUBLE GOLD MEDAL AT THE 2023 TAG AWARDS

DOUBLE GOLD MEDAL AT THE 2023 SAN FRANCISCO SPIRITS COMPETITION

DOUBLE GOLD 2023 SIP AWARDS

Rossville Union Cask Strength Straight Rye Whiskey is a powerhouse from MGP Ingredients, showcasing the best of American whiskey craftsmanship. Bottled at cask strength, it offers a bold and intense flavor profile with classic rye spice, caramel sweetness, and oak notes. Perfect for those who appreciate unadulterated whiskey experiences, it's a true testament to the rich heritage of American rye.