More than any other spirit category, the bourbon industry is carefully regulated and that has been the case since the Bottled-in-Bond Act of 1897 was passed. Bourbon must be produced in America, it must be made of at least 51% corn, and it must mature in new, charred oak. Straight bourbon must be aged for at least two years. Bottled-in-bond bourbon has to be at least four years old (among other things). But “small batch” bourbon? That doesn’t have an official definition—except at Wilderness Trail Distillery.
“At Wilderness Trail, ‘small batch’ means a maximum of twenty barrels per batch,” says Dr. Pat Heist, co-founder and chief scientific officer of Wilderness Trail Distillery, which opened in Danville, Kentucky in 2013.
While it’s unusual for a distillery to define what their small batch is—and for that small batch to be that small—Wilderness Trail is no stranger to doing things a little differently. Notably, they were one of the first Kentucky distilleries to utilize a sweet mash process for fermentation. As opposed to the more typical sour mash process, Heist and his fellow co-founder Shane Baker feel it creates a more consistent spirit that’s less prone to microbial infections and has a softer mouthfeel and more grain-forward finish.
“If you track the PH of a sour mash fermentation, you’re still getting a good bit of acidification though,” says Heist. “So our whiskeys aren’t tremendously different. I mean, they might be more delicious, but they’re not tremendously different from a sour mash, I don’t believe.”
Not only that, but all of Wilderness Trail’s core products also adhere to the rigorous criteria necessary to be labeled Bottled-in-Bond. This means all the barrels in each small batch must have been distilled during the same distilling season. These bourbons and ryes must also be bottled at exactly 100 proof.
Such is the case for the troika of miniature bottles available in the new Trail Mix set. Included in this exquisite bundle are Wilderness Trail’s three flagship products: a Kentucky Straight Wheated Bourbon, High Rye Bourbon, and Rye Whiskey. At only $20 per set, it’s a great and economical way to familiarize yourself with Wilderness Trail’s range, or to offer to friends and family as this holiday season approaches.
What could be better than giving a small gift set composed of small batches? As Baker said: “We aren’t interested in making the most, just the best.”
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Sponsored by Wilderness Trail Distillery
Wilderness Trail® Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey, 50% alc./vol. (100 Proof). Distilled and Bottled by Wilderness Trail Distillery, Danville, KY. ©2023 Campari America, New York, NY. Drink Responsibly.
